Kiili: Estonia needs a strong PM, not a defence minister with special powers

Riigikogu member and reserve major general Meelis Kiili has raised concerns about the expected appointment of Martin Herem as Estonia's defence minister, reportedly on condition of receiving special additional powers.

This week Kiili, together with five other former senior military officials, published an opinion piece on ERR.ee expressing worry about the proposed model for managing the defence sector. The authors say strengthening Estonia's defence capability is a necessary goal, but giving one minister the power to make personnel decisions and act across ministry boundaries could alter the existing system of state governance.

Question for the prime minister

According to Kiili, the first question should go to Prime Minister Kristen Michal: what additional powers is he prepared to grant the candidate. Kiili notes that Herem has said he is only interested in defence policy, yet defence policy cannot exist separately from the rest of government policy. A minister, even one without party membership, holds a political office, so expanding his authority beyond his own ministry is not standard democratic practice.

Asked whether Estonia needs a defence "super-minister" or a strong head of government more, Kiili came down clearly on the side of centralising responsibility, saying it is the prime minister who should be responsible for defence, the economy, security and the country's development overall.

Kiili did not rule out potentially supporting a no-confidence vote against the sitting prime minister and his former party colleague Michal, though he added that such a step would require a clear understanding of how the state would then be governed.

Too early for final judgement

Kiili acknowledged it is still premature to give a final assessment of Herem as a candidate, since his programme has not yet been presented — only the conditions he reportedly set for taking the post are known, including the right to make personnel decisions, a mandate to act beyond ministry boundaries, and the ability to quickly change laws, rules and procedures.

Kiili stressed that any powers delegated by the prime minister must not conflict with the law, since laws are still passed by the Riigikogu, to which the minister remains accountable. He voiced particular concern over how Defence Ministry Chancellor Kaimo Kuusk was dismissed, warning it could set a bad precedent for state institutions generally.