Michal says defense ministry chancellor would have been dismissed regardless of minister

Prime Minister Kristen Michal told ERR that the decision to dismiss Kaimo Kuusk as chancellor of the Ministry of Defense did not depend on who became the new defense minister. He said the only legal basis for the decision was that cooperation had broken down.

Michal said the coalition government had demanded clear leadership accountability because of confusion at the ministry. As a result, he said, the chancellor would have been replaced regardless of who took over the ministerial post.

Addressing concerns about Martin Herem’s links to the defense industry, Michal said any economic interests must be left outside the ministry. He said cooperation with defense industry companies should be transparent and properly recorded in the lobbying register. Michal added that Herem had also said his economic interests would not influence his work as minister.

Michal said the government had several ways to monitor potential conflicts of interest, including written procedures and oversight by law enforcement agencies.

He also distinguished between two problems identified in a report by the National Audit Office. One concerns the management of military assets and supplies, which Herem has said he tried to improve, although not all problems were resolved. The other concerns procurement at the State Defense Investment Centre, including ammunition purchases for Ukraine made with European funds. Michal said Elmar Vaher was currently working to address those problems.

Michal said both areas needed to be put in order, with clear responsibility for leaders and the involvement of an external partner to restore public trust.

He acknowledged that defense procurement had often been carried out under intense time pressure, including purchases of older ammunition used by Ukraine in its defense against Russia. He said background checks needed to be improved, noting that some suppliers had been fraudulent or that the goods had not been of adequate quality.