Agriculture minister throws money to educational institution

Photo: Meelis Meilbaum / Virumaa Teataja

Soc dem agriculture minister Ivari Padar this Wednesday signed directive granting Võrumaa Local Governments Union €75,000 – exceptionally. Mr Padar runs for parliament in selfsame district.

About such appropriations by agriculture ministry, nothing is said in letter of explanation to state budget nor the so-called [regional] protection money list – these being the sums that Riigikogu members may distribute according to their party tastes.

The Local Governments Union will use the money to promote a wood processing and furniture making competence centre being established at Võrumaa Vocational Education Centre. The centre has nothing to do with agriculture; forestry, in its turn, is the business of environmental ministry.

Also, funding local government unions is not for the agriculture ministry, but for interior ministry to tackle.

Rare gift

At the beginning of each year, agriculture ministers have always handed targeted grants to non-profit organisations, but as a rule not to local government unions nor county-level agricultural organisations. This time, the only such financial support – €30,000 – went to Tartumaa Farmers Union to fix the roof of their building. Said union is headed by Jaan Sõrra, Mr Padar’s comrade-in-party and also a candidate at the elections. True, this sum is in the «protection» money list.

All in all, the minister allocated close to €3.5m. A large part of that went to fulfil European fishery fund operational programme, and traditionally also to Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, Central Union of Farm Operators and Central Union of Estonian Farmers.

Pursuant to state budget letter of explanation, investments related to the abovementioned wood-processing competence centre are the domain of education and research ministry. It says nothing about financial plan by agriculture ministry.

As confirmed by sources to Postimees, the options for ministries to distribute the protection money are incomparably greater than for Riigikogu members. «A sum of €75,000 should at least be in the state budget letter of explanation,» one said. «The question also rises: why the money for Võrumaa Local Governments Union, and not for those of Valgamaa or Läänemaa.»

According to former agriculture minister and IRL member Helir-Valdor Seeder, such exceptional handing out of money in one’s own election district and immediately before elections raises questions. «There was nothing said about such appropriations in Finance Committee as budget was discussed, and one would think this is rather a pre-election protection money for the minister’s electoral district,» he said.

According to Mr Seeder, it is weird that a vocational education centre is now being financed by agriculture ministry. «I would understand, to a degree, if agriculture ministry would allocate money to Räpina Horticulture School, say,» commented Mr Seeder.

Popular guy

Ivari Padar admitted he has indeed allocated €75,000 to the Võrumaa vocational education centre via local government union. «There, in a pure form, they are developing rural life,» he declared. Why not give money to other local government unions as well? «If they come with a wish, we may discuss.»

The minister said the money was granted according to agreement between him and  Võrumaa Local Governments Union. Why immediately before elections? «Well you know what to do, elections aren’t on May 1^st. These decisions do need to be taken at the start of the year.» Up to now, ministers have done targeted appropriation decisions in January.

So there is no politics, no desire to get elected, behind the appropriations? «No, and again I say: no!»

Largely due to the popularity of Mr Padar, soc dems are in power in quite a few parishes in Võrumaa. Though the electoral district does encompass Põlva and Valga Counties, the Võru folks are Mr Padar’s greatest fans – the man being for then a native. Last Riigikogu elections, soc dems were a close second in Põlva-Valga-Võru region.