Former Tallinn deputy mayor Kaarel Oja elected Põhja-Pärnumaa leader

ERR reported that Põhja-Pärnumaa municipal council elected former Tallinn deputy mayor Kaarel Oja of SDE as the municipality’s new head on Tuesday. Oja received 11 votes in a secret ballot, while fellow candidate Angela Lõhmus received 10.

Oja said his goal was to represent the interests of the entire Põhja-Pärnumaa municipality and its residents.

He said the new municipal government would face several important issues, including preparing the budget for the coming years, analysing the education network and making maximum use of opportunities in the European Union’s new funding period to develop Põhja-Pärnumaa.

Oja plans to form a five-member municipal government. In addition to himself, it would include a deputy mayor responsible for the economy and business, a deputy mayor responsible for education, culture and social affairs, and two other members.

Oja served as a deputy mayor of Tallinn from November 2021 until autumn 2025.

The Põhja-Pärnumaa municipal council has 21 members. Five represent the Tasakaal electoral alliance, five belong to Isamaa, four represent the Meie vald electoral alliance, three belong to the Estonian Conservative People’s Party, two represent the Inimeste eest electoral alliance and two represent the Uus Plaan electoral alliance.