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After a week and a half of searching and think-tanking, Reform Party leadership gathers at 10:30 am tomorrow to ponder appointment of Riigikogu member Urve Tiidus (59) as new minister of culture.
Urve Tiidus mulled as Rein Lang replacement
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In all probability, at mid-day tomorrow, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will be driven to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, with Ms Tiidus in car to be declared minister as proposed by him.
One can never be too sure. Even so, at the Reform Party top, it is currently being considered that it is the very Ms Tiidus that possesses the qualities – experienced, calm, conciliatory, palatable to creative community – as a long-time TV worker, Mayor of Kuressaare, Saaremaa in 2005–2011, and Reform Party member since 1998. At the latest local elections, running in Kuressaare, the lady came fifth with 163 votes.
Within the party, there was no rush at all to be minister. Of the younger cadre, none agreed to accept the difficult post for a year and a half till next general elections – to mainly sit listening to and trying to reconcile the culture community... with no need to think on reforms over so short a time. Also: utmost care was required, from Reform Party, to not whip up another storm of displeasure.
Yesterday, Ms Tiidus desired not to dwell on the subject. Even so, she did confirm her presence at the leadership meeting, tomorrow. «Once greater clarity comes, I’ll be glad to have a longer talk,» said she.
Yesternoon, Mr Lang handed his written request of resignation to Prime Minister Mr Ansip. «I step down, not because I would think I did anything basically wrong while in office. Mistakes have surely happened, these come with the territory,» Mr Lang commented before Riigikogu yesterday, presenting his political case.
Mr Lang, now to continue at Riigikogu, has been in the government since February 2005, rising to foreign minister in the cabinet of Juhan Parts. In April of the same year, he became minister of justice in the government of Andrus Ansip till spring 2011. Over these past two and a half years, Mr Lang served as minister of culture.