Estonia's Reform Party: new defence minister's name expected next week
Reform Party secretary general Kristo Enn Vaga says the name of Estonia's new defence minister should be known next week, once parliament reconvenes. Meanwhile, it remains unclear which committee former minister Hanno Pevkur will join after returning to parliament.
Kristo Enn Vaga, secretary general of Estonia's Reform Party, said the name of the country's new defence minister should be known by next week. The party's board plans to discuss the matter at a meeting on Wednesday, September 9.
According to Vaga, a new minister cannot take office until the Riigikogu convenes, which will happen only next week. Several candidates are currently being considered within the party, and clarity on who will be nominated should emerge by the end of this week or the start of next.
Last week it became known that Prime Minister Kristen Michal had discussed the defence minister post with Martin Herem, the former commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Vaga confirmed that talks had taken place but said no formal offer had been made. He noted that a selection process is underway, during which defence and security policy experts both inside and outside the party are being considered, with the aim of restoring trust in the defence sector. Vaga said Herem is one of Estonia's most reliable defence experts and could be a worthy candidate. He added that the party would prefer a new person for the role rather than appointing a current government member, though he did not rule that option out entirely.
Pevkur's committee role uncertain
Ünne Pillak, leader of the Reform Party's Riigikogu faction, said that Hanno Pevkur, who is returning to parliament, might not join the National Defence Committee at all and could instead work in a different committee, given his earlier experience, including as justice minister. She said these matters would be discussed next week.
Pevkur has previously noted that, under the coalition agreement, the chairmanship of the National Defence Committee belongs to the Eesti 200 party, adding that he had not yet discussed the matter with faction leadership. The committee's previous chairman, Kalev Stoicescu, left Eesti 200 in early August to join the Isamaa party and was subsequently recalled from the position. Toomas Uibo (Eesti 200) has since become a committee member, but a new chairman has not yet been elected. Pevkur announced last Wednesday that he was stepping down as defence minister, a post he had held since 2022.
