Michal expects new energy and environment minister to be named Tuesday

Estonia’s new energy and environment minister is likely to be named by Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said, according to ERR. He did not name any possible candidates and did not rule out reshuffling Reform Party ministers within the government.

Michal said he had offered the portfolio to entrepreneur and former civil servant Taavi Kotka, who declined it. He did not say whether others had also turned down the offer or how many candidates were being considered.

“It is not excluded or unprecedented that, when there is very little time before the elections, someone with government experience takes responsibility for another area and someone else joins the government,” Michal said. He added that he was consulting people within and outside the party, including external experts, and would propose a solution on Tuesday morning.

Social Democratic Party leader Tanel Kiik said a new minister would need at least a couple of months to settle into the job, while parliamentary elections are due in six months. He said it would therefore be difficult to find someone who could quickly take charge of the minister’s responsibilities.

“The possibility of merging ministerial positions or making changes between ministries will certainly be considered,” Kiik said. Given the short time before the elections, he added, it was important for the minister to be well acquainted with the field, either through parliamentary work in the same area or previous ministerial experience.

Politicians have suggested that Economy Minister Erkki Keldo could take over the Climate Ministry, but Keldo called that an opposition spin. There has also been speculation about appointing a new female minister.

Tarmo Jüristo, head of the Liberal Citizen Foundation, said reshuffling ministerial positions was possible but would make matters more complicated. He said the minister would more likely be a well-known person with political experience, noting that leading a large and complex ministry for six months before the elections would not be easy, particularly with winter approaching and electricity and heating prices likely to return to the agenda.

Jüristo said the start of an active election campaign should be taken into account both in opposition statements and in the coalition’s actions.