Tsahkna says new foreign ministry chief need not come from within

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says the next chancellor of the Foreign Ministry does not have to be an internal candidate, ERR reports. He said the person must understand Estonia’s foreign and security policy and be able to work with government institutions and international partners.

Tsahkna said he had not been surprised by current Chancellor Jonatan Vseviov’s decision to enter politics. Vseviov told him on Wednesday that he would run in the elections with the Social Democrats.

Tsahkna declined to comment on Vseviov’s choice of party, saying Vseviov should explain his political views himself. The law did not require Vseviov to leave his post, and Tsahkna said he had not asked him to do so. Vseviov decided that holding the chancellor’s office while actively campaigning would not be appropriate. He will leave the post on November 1.

Tsahkna said he had several ideas about who could take over. He said the new chancellor should be an expert in foreign policy and know how Estonia’s foreign and security policy is handled. The role also requires cooperation with parliament, the president, the Defence Ministry, think tanks and international partners, he said.

Tsahkna added that he had encouraged senior public officials for years to enter politics, noting that politicians take a mandate and direct responsibility for their decisions.