Stoicescu says Eesti 200 ignored him for two months

Estonian MP Kalev Stoicescu said Eesti 200’s decision to remove him as chairman of the parliament’s National Defence Committee after he left the party was based on contrived reasons, ERR reported. He said no one from the party had contacted him during the previous two months.

Eesti 200 announced on Monday that Stoicescu, who had also left the party’s parliamentary group, would be replaced on the committee by Toomas Uibo, previously a member of the Rural Affairs Committee.

Stoicescu compared the decision on Tuesday with EKRE’s treatment of MP Alar Laneman, who was transferred to the Rural Affairs Committee after a conflict with his party. Laneman has since left EKRE and joined the Reform Party.

Stoicescu said party leader and Education Minister Kristina Kallas called him several hours after the decision became public and told him that replacing him was necessary to maintain control of the committee.

He rejected claims that Eesti 200 had remained in contact with him after his departure. “For practically the last two months, I did not attend any Eesti 200 parliamentary group meetings or other meetings or events. That was my signal that I was separating from the party. No one, including Kristina Kallas, picked up the phone to call or contact me,” he said.

Stoicescu also dismissed Uibo’s claims that he and the party had disagreements as fabricated. “There were no disagreements, and it is not difficult to work with me if there is a will. He should know that,” Stoicescu told ERR.

He said Eesti 200’s conduct had confirmed the reasons for his departure. Stoicescu added that he would have been willing to continue as committee chairman, but that was not possible because Kallas opposed it. Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur had also expressed hope that Stoicescu could remain in the post.

Enn Eesmaa, a member of the National Defence Committee, said MPs from other parliamentary groups should not comment on the political choices of others. However, he said Stoicescu had handled the committee’s leadership fairly well.

“Kalev was a capable leader, although there were also clashes, including with a member of his own party,” Eesmaa said, referring to disputes between Stoicescu and Tali. One of the most prominent disagreements involved which of them would present a bill on language proficiency requirements for conscripts in the parliament’s main chamber.

Eesmaa said the move was nevertheless somewhat unusual because the public and the media had become accustomed to Stoicescu speaking on foreign policy and national defence issues.

Social Democrat Raimond Kaljulaid, who also serves on the committee, strongly criticised the decision on social media. He said the National Defence Committee should never be used for settling party disputes and accused Eesti 200 of copying EKRE’s earlier decision to transfer retired General Alar Laneman to the Rural Affairs Committee after a disagreement with the party leadership.

Stoicescu confirmed that he would move to the Rural Affairs Committee. He said rural life, particularly food production and other aspects of rural affairs, was highly important for ensuring the wellbeing and satisfaction of many people.