Reinsalu calls for Michal government to resign

Isamaa chairman Urmas Reinsalu has called on Prime Minister Kristen Michal to resign with his entire government, ERR reported. If Michal does not step down, Parliament should consider passing a no-confidence motion against him, Reinsalu said.

Reinsalu wrote on social media that the government was disintegrating from within. He pointed to Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur’s resignation last week after a 70 million euro arms deal with Indian company Datasel was found to be problematic.

“A week earlier, Pevkur was certain he was not going anywhere, then he quickly decided to resign,” Reinsalu said. He added that the immediate reason for the resignation remained unclear and accused the government of “too much deception and concealment.”

Reinsalu said the disorder in the administration of the Defence Ministry showed that the Reform Party had been incapable of leading national defence.

He also criticised the decision to appoint Martin Herem as defence minister instead of a Reform Party politician. Herem had previously left his position as commander of the defence forces prematurely while serving under Pevkur and had later criticised national defence decisions and indecision, Reinsalu said.

Reinsalu also questioned the government’s decision to dismiss Defence Ministry Chancellor Kaimo Kuusk, citing claims that Kuusk and Herem had irreconcilable differences over the organisation of national defence. He said the public had a right to know what those differences were.

Reinsalu also referred to Wednesday’s news that Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt had decided to leave office, saying his departure would leave confusion behind. He said there was already talk of other ministers who might resign, referring to Minister Kuldar Leis’s statement that he would stay in office.

According to Reinsalu, the Reform Party was trying, just months before the elections, to appoint people from outside politics in order to blur responsibility for its actions and failures.

“This internal turmoil means wasted time for Estonia,” Reinsalu said. “Prime Minister Michal would be wise to resign with the entire government. If he does not, Parliament has reason to express no confidence in him.”