Estonian president: Police chief's appointment not possible without legal committee's nod

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

Meeting with Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher on Thursday, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said the director general of the Police and Border Guard Board cannot be appointed to office without the approval of the Riigikogu legal affairs committee.

"It is important for the minister of interior to explain openly and frankly his actions in that direction. In parliamentary Estonia it isn't possible to appoint to office the director general of an institution so important as the Police and Border Guard Board without the approval of the Riigikogu legal affairs committee. The same has been said by Prime Minister Ansip. That principle cannot be backed down on," spokespeople quoted the president as saying.

Ilves said the Police and Border Guard Board, whose activity must offer a strong feeling of security to all citizens, needs a modern leader. "But the Police and Border Guard Board also needs an internal feeling of security, especially in a situation where the merger of three different institutions into one has not yet ended," said Ilves.

The head of state said it was causing concern that the transparency of the competition to choose the next head of the Police and Border Guard Board turned out under question, which has caused questions in the society and tension in the Police and Border Guard Board, reducing the motivation of capable officials there and undermining the credibility of the Ministry of Interior.

"The new and efficient director general of the Police and Border Guard Board must be capable of cooperation both within the Police and Border Guard Board and outside of it, give officials the necessary feeling of security, reduce conflicts, be someone who unifies the organization and, in the end, someone who increases the interior security of Estonia," Ilves said.

After dismissing three shortlisted candidates from the police and the Interior Ministry, the panel choosing the new director general of the Police and Border Guard Board last week recommended for the post Priit Kama, who has been working at the Justice Ministry since 1993 and as deputy secretary general in charge of correctional facilities since 2005.

The parliament's legal affairs committee on Monday voted down a change in the agenda of its Thursday meeting proposed by chairman Marko Pomerants from Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), who wanted Kama's introduction to be the first item of the day. However, only Pomerants and Siim Kabrits, a fellow member of IRL, backed the proposal while seven members of the panel including lawmakers from the Reform Party, IRL's partner in the governing coalition, voted against.

Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher comes from IRL.

Police and border guard chief Raivo Küüt tendered his resignation in November in the wake of a scandal over speeding fines issued by officers of the East Prefecture based on readings from an uncalibrated speed measuring device and subsequent cover-up of the case. Citing the need to complete tasks undertaken in relation to the merger of the Police Board, the Border Guard Board and the Citizenship and Migration Board, the minister of interior accepted Kuut's resignation effective from March 1. The duties of director general will be assumed in a temporary capacity from Friday by Tõnu Hunt, deputy director general for border guard.

The head the Police and Border Guard Board is appointed to office by the government at the interior minister's proposal.