Michal says Kiili departure caught him by surprise

Estonian Prime Minister and Reform Party leader Kristen Michal told ERR that he had not expected Meelis Kiili, a former serviceman, to leave the party. Michal said he remained confident in his political team despite Kiili and Kalev Stoicescu announcing their departures from their respective parties, the Reform Party and Eesti 200.

Michal said he learned of Kiili’s decision from the news on Monday morning. Kiili had also sent a letter to Michal and the Reform Party parliamentary group.

“It is not positive news,” Michal said, adding that he understood the times were difficult and that many decisions had to be made. He said taking responsibility in difficult circumstances was always harder than criticising those who held power.

“I would have least expected the hands of soldiers to start shaking,” Michal said.

He said national defence had been a priority for Estonian society in recent years, receiving significant effort, energy, funding and work so that people could feel safe knowing the country was protected, despite having what he called a “very wild neighbour”.

Michal said tensions had emerged in national defence and other fields. He pointed to disagreements between Stoicescu and Kiili over experts, positions and statements on reports and other issues. He also said tensions related to the approaching presidential and parliamentary elections should not be underestimated.

Asked whether he remained confident in his governing team, Michal said he was “very confident”.

“There are many people who take responsibility and carry their mandate with dignity in difficult times, regardless of their role. There are always more of them than those who throw their rifle into the bushes in a headwind,” he said.

Michal said he did not know whether more Reform Party members in the Riigikogu would decide to leave. He hoped as few as possible would do so, and that they would make their decisions quickly so the government could move forward.

He said the government had effectively operated like a minority government for about a year. It had therefore needed to seek broader support from opposition parliamentary groups and MPs sitting outside factions for every draft law and bill, and had received that support.

Michal said the government’s working method of seeking the broadest possible consensus would not change significantly, although it would require more compromises and effort. Presidential elections, the preparation of the budget and many other issues lay ahead.

He added that if another group wanted to join forces and form a majority government, Estonia had a constitutional mechanism for doing so.