Prime Minister Sanna Marin has congratulated the new Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who took office on Tuesday 26 January.
Prime Minister Marin sent a letter of congratulations to Kallas immediately after the inauguration and had a video call with her during the evening, the government said in a press release.
The prime ministers discussed the bilateral relations between their countries, EU affairs and the health security measures needed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland and Estonia.
In their discussion, both leaders highlighted the need for coordinated action to ensure health security in movement across the border.
Estonia's new government was sworn in on Tuesday, officially making Kaja Kallas the country's first female prime minister, in the wake of the previous government's resignation due to a corruption scandal.
Kallas and her new Cabinet were sworn in by parliament in the morning, after being officially nominated by President Kersti Kaljulaid.
"There is a possibility to convert bad into good. It is an important opportunity," Kaljulaid said during the nomination in the early morning.
Huge coronavirus crisis
The 43-year-old Kallas, a lawyer and daughter of former EU commissioner Siim Kallas, takes over from Juri Ratas, who resigned two weeks ago in connection with corruption allegations against his Centre party regarding a state aid loan to a real estate project.
Kallas said the new government would prioritize growth. Although the country was facing a huge crisis with the coronavirus pandemic, this could be used as fuel for the future, the head of the pro-business Reform party said.
Kallas, of the Reform Party, is to lead a coalition with Ratas' left-oriented Centre party. The two parties have been the leading political forces since Estonia's independence in 1991 and both strong proponents of the European Union and NATO.
The alliance comes with a majority of 59 out of 101 seats in parliament.
The Cabinet will be formed of six women and eight men, including Eva-Maria Liimets as foreign minister, Kalle Laanet as defence minister, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus as finance minister and Andres Sutt as foreign trade and technology minister.
