Michal rules out Vaga as defence minister, party seeks candidate

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Kristo Enn Vaga will remain secretary-general of the Reform Party and will not become defence minister, ERR reported. The party will discuss candidates for the post next week.

Michal dismissed media speculation that Vaga, the Reform Party’s secretary-general, could replace Hanno Pevkur as defence minister. He said the two positions were incompatible.

Michal said the party would discuss next week who could become the new defence minister. The candidate is expected to take the oath of office when parliament reconvenes the following week.

Michal described Pevkur’s decision to resign as honourable. He said the defence minister bears political responsibility if risks connected with aid to Ukraine materialise within the ministry’s area of responsibility, but that this does not necessarily mean personal responsibility.

Pevkur announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down as defence minister. He had held the post since 2022.

On Tuesday, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings concerning the administrative area of the Ministry of Defence. The investigation covers circumstances addressed in audits by the National Audit Office this year and last year. No one has been presented with suspicions of a crime.

It also emerged on Wednesday that Estonia had sought to buy shells for Ukraine and had paid 70 million euros in advance to Indian businesses that had allegedly never sold a shell before.