Martin Herem could become Estonia's new defence minister
Estonia's Reform Party is searching for a successor to outgoing Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, with former Defence Forces commander Martin Herem seen as the leading candidate. A decision could be announced as early as this week.
Estonia's Reform Party is looking for someone to take over the defence portfolio for the roughly seven months remaining before parliamentary elections, following Hanno Pevkur's departure. In political circles, former Defence Forces commander and current University of Tartu professor Martin Herem is increasingly named as the likely choice.
According to the programme "Aktuaalne kaamera," the prime minister has already made Herem an offer. Reform Party secretary general Kristo Enn Vaga confirmed that several candidates are being weighed, both party members and non-affiliated individuals. The party's board was set to meet on Wednesday to discuss the process, with a candidate's name possibly announced the same day.
Asked directly whether Herem could be the pick, Vaga said he is considered one of the best — possibly the best — defence and security expert in Estonia, and would be well suited to the minister's role.
Opposition reaction
Social Democratic Party chairman Lauri Läänemets argued that the prime minister is working hard to secure Herem's agreement because the Reform Party urgently needs someone to help salvage its reputation. Läänemets said Herem appears to have set several conditions for accepting the post, adding that he hopes Herem understands he is needed not for major achievements in defence but to obscure the Reform Party's role in problems that have come to light.
Under the coalition agreement, the defence portfolio belongs to the Reform Party, so the other governing party, Eesti 200, is not publicly involved in selecting the candidate. Riigikogu member Peeter Tali (Eesti 200) said the new minister must be able to take charge immediately, since there is no time to lose in strengthening national defence.
Tali himself is expected to take on a related role, likely chairing the Riigikogu's National Defence Committee after its current chair, Kalev Stoicescu, decided to leave Eesti 200. Eesti 200 faction leader Toomas Uibo said the matter would be decided next week at a faction meeting, calling Tali a very strong candidate for the post.
