Party whip wins – portfolios passed to insiders

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

Oh the uproar and upset in Reform Party ranks if again «immigrants» had come before «cadre»! This, the presently popular prime minister Taavi Rõvas was not about to risk.

«They’d have gone crazy in the party,» said some emotional top squirrels, yesterday.

Till two days ago, foreign ministerial mantle was hanging between said ministry’s vice chancellor Marina Kaljurand and a Keit Pentus-Rosimannus so far happy to preside over environment. After long talks, Ms Kaljurand bowed out though favoured by lots of decision makers among Reformers. So it was left for Mr Rõivas to decide.

Party-going-crazy means the upcoming elections. No-one in no party will forever stomach a situation where the faithful who for years have invested time and money are replaced by an expert at some point in time. Te signal would be: why try, promotion will never be mine. 

For March 2015 elections, lists of candidates are ready. All the parties are left with is a move at first glance technical, yet the most important of all: set the names in order in regions and Riigikogu general list. To keep peace in party and government, Mr Rõivas hath now decided – and the squirrels seem content.

Commenting on her outlook to be foreign minister, Ms Kaljurand yesterday said the following: «I have not talked about that with the prime minister.» Asked if she had talked about that with anybody else than the prime minister, Ms Kaljurand answered: «A proposal like this may only be made by the prime minister.»

Instead of a former rescue chief Mati Raidma, the current Tabivere commune mayor Kalmer Lain gets into the parliament. He’d have made it to Riigikogu even if Urmas Paet had stayed on as foreign minister while Igor Gräzin went off to be MEP.

«Keit and Mati have long-term experience and have proven themselves as politicians. Considering that, I am convinced they will do well in new posts,» Mr Rõivas said yesterday to explain the time he took to choose.

With foreign minister, Mr Rõivas claimed to have gone by the person having prior experience as a government minister. For the environmental minister, he preferred a person seasoned in parliamentary labour, as several environmental initiatives face Riigikogu scrutiny soon. 

On November 17^th, the Prime Minister heads to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to get the new people nominated.

As foreign minister Ms Pentus-Rosimannus desires to keep in the current political groove and be working for Estonia’s security and development to be guaranteed. 

«A task for a foreign minister is that a maximal amount of international foreign policy decisions would be taken with Estonia participating, that Estonia be visible, that we be an esteemed and trusted partner. Most important now, of course, is security policy,» said Ms Pentus-Rosimannus.

The incoming environmental minister Mati Raidma noted he had solved various crises with environmentalists while working as director general for Rescue Board. «For me, it is a great honour to be working in Estonia’s best team – the Government of the Republic.»

Mr Raidma promised to tread the Ms Pentus-Rosimannus line and carry the ongoing projects to their end. «That includes Nabala conservation unit and the environmental fees issue. At the moment, what is definitely important is Estonia’s eastern border which we will see to be cleansed and tidied up. Also, we need to advance when it comes to our capacity to remove marine pollution,» said Mr Raidma.

Keit Pentus-Rosimannus

•    Environment minister since spring of 2011. Before that, Riigikogu member in 2007–2011.

•    An earlier head for prime minister’s bureau. Has worked as Tallinn City Centre elder, and as adviser to foreign and justice ministers. A graduate of Tallinn Pedagogical University in administrative management and EU relations.

Mati Raidma

•    Riigikogu member since 2007, currently as chairman of national defence committee.

•    Employed at various posts in Rescue Board since 1986. Rescue Board director-general in 2000–2006.