Govt proposes to release Minister of Rural Affairs Mart Jarvik from office

Prime Minister Juri Ratas said on Monday that he and leaders of coalition partners made a consensual proposal to release Minister of Rural Affairs Mart Jarvik from office. Photo: Konstantin Sednev

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas said on Monday that he and leaders of coalition partners Isamaa and the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) made a consensual proposal to release Minister of Rural Affairs Mart Jarvik from office.

According to Ratas, the decision to release Jarvik from office has already been forwarded to the president.

The prime minister admitted that the situation that had developed in the Ministry of Rural Affairs over the last few weeks needed to be solved. Ratas said that Jarvik's decisions left him with no option of continuing in his position.

"The Estonian Conservative People's Party must now find a dignified candidate for the position of rural affairs minister," the prime minister said.

Govt releases Ministry of Rural Affairs secgen Illar Lemetti from office

Government at the proposal of Minister of Rural Affairs Mart Jarvik and due to failed cooperation on Monday decided to release Illar Lemetti, secretary general of the Ministry of Rural Affairs, from office.

The government decided to release Lemetti from office in a phone session held on Monday morning, government spokespeople said.

According to the Civil Service Act, a secretary general can be released from office prematurely if the minister believes that their cooperation has failed and at least six months have passed since the start of the cooperation between the minister and secretary general.

Minister of Rural Affairs Mart Jarvik has cited failed cooperation as the reason he wishes to release Lemetti from office. October 29 marked six months since the start of their cooperation.