Kaljulaid urges Pevkur to consider resigning as defence minister

Raimond Kaljulaid, a member of Estonia’s parliamentary National Defence Committee, has said Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur should consider resigning following criminal proceedings launched by the Prosecutor’s Office, ERR reported.

Kaljulaid, a member of the Social Democratic Party, began a social media post by praising Pevkur and their cooperation but said he would recommend that Pevkur step down at the earliest opportunity.

“Hanno has been a hardworking and active minister, as well as a strong and tireless supporter of Ukraine. But if Hanno asked for my opinion today, I would very seriously recommend that he consider resigning as defence minister at the first opportunity and on his own initiative,” Kaljulaid said.

According to Kaljulaid, Pevkur’s resignation could at least partly remove the ministry and the wider defence sector from under scrutiny.

“The repeated criticism from the National Audit Office, confusion over procurements and advance payments, and now also a criminal case — it is too much,” he said.

Kaljulaid also said that circles linked to the defence industry had been discussing for some time the possibility that Pevkur could next take a position at a major international defence company.

“I am completely certain that such doors will open for him once he is no longer a minister. It would certainly benefit Estonia and the Estonian defence industry if we had one of our own people in this game at a high level. It would open new opportunities for domestic industry,” Kaljulaid said.

He said Prime Minister Kristen Michal should appoint a minister with no party-political ties, an impeccable reputation and relevant experience to lead the Defence Ministry for the six months remaining before the elections.

Kaljulaid said potential candidates could include diplomats with a background in defence, although he did not name anyone. He stressed that the candidate should have no previous domestic political background, saying this would create broader confidence that the new minister would not enter the ministry to pursue party interests or cover things up.

“The Defence Ministry is currently doing very badly. We are already at sea in stormy conditions. Let us get this ship in order and keep it on course. And I genuinely thank Hanno for the work he has done, but unfortunately I do not see that he will be allowed to continue doing it,” Kaljulaid added.

The Prosecutor’s Office has launched criminal proceedings concerning the Defence Ministry’s administrative area. The investigation covers circumstances addressed in audits by the National Audit Office this year and last year.

In an audit of the state’s consolidated annual financial report, the National Audit Office identified numerous serious problems in the activities of institutions under the Defence Ministry, which it said increased the risk of misuse of state money and property.