Person of the week: the secure chief of Security Police

Photo: A.Peegel

The Security Police director general Raivo Aeg decision not to apply for next term was surprising. Around here, it is an exception of exceptions to give up a high and respectable post. That Mr Aeg did it, again confirms the opinion of myself and of others more or less acquainted with him: top jobs have not spoilt him, over the years.

Raivo Aeg is living proof that a high post, quite quick to dizzy the heads of people with weaker nerves, will not rot a real man.

Working under Mr Aeg, at first glance nordically stoic, has been no bed of roses. He is demanding. A strong personality, who, as entering a room, demands subconscious respect – a vital treat for a leader. And… not all at key positions in public sector have been blessed with such a charisma.

His term of office at KaPo was filled with battles internal and external. Sense of justice demands one thing, politics another. For bosses clinging to their posts, it is easiest to obey those upon whom their careers depend. Public sector abounds with apparatchiks like that.

Yet, Raivo Aeg was of another spirit. When the heart said otherwise, he said so. Arguing with Minister or other higher figures. Still neither conflict- nor narrow-minded. All told – he lacked the characteristics which will often make a great leader his subordinates’ nightmare.

Lengthy periods in special services may make a person more suspicious than is healthy. Thus, the line between justified interest and mistreatment may become blurred. Therefore, it is vital here for the chief to be a person sensitive to that – with superior discernment to overly forced colleagues. Raivo Aeg, in KaPo, was that very kind of a leader.

The great achievements of his term in office – traitors Simm and Dressen plus the corrupt investigator Põder – went hand in hand with questionable criminal proceedings. The cases related to Marika Priske or power brokering by Centre Party. Therefore, the past five years have been no picnic for Mr Aeg. Stressful, rather.

The most truthful answer to his sudden retirement would simply be tiredness of it all. Like many of us, Mr Aeg likes comfort, sort of. And, should there arise an opportunity to avoid gruelling labour – who is there to condemn Mr Aeg for that?

His departure, however, again stirred up some painful questions. Where do we find a new worthy leader, a person, with whom risk of professional failure would be minimized? The past testifying that this has never been totally avoided.

Another question: why is the stressful and sensitive KaPo chief job many times less paid that leading some state enterprise – not quite that important for the country, strategically speaking?

And finally: how do we ensure that the KaPo ex-chief will not become a benchwarmer, entering the well paid orbit of some public sector post?