Michal: Herem will not get special powers, only support for reforms

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform Party) said in an interview with "Aktuaalne Kaamera" and the Rus.ERR portal that defence minister candidate Martin Herem will not receive any special powers that previous ministers did not have. According to Michal, Herem primarily asked for defence spending to be kept at five percent of GDP and for political support for necessary reforms.

The prime minister stressed that the defence minister only has the powers of a defence minister — he will not, for instance, run a hospital. Herem also reportedly asked for political support for reforms needed to fix problems identified by the National Audit Office. Michal noted that a minister cannot change legislation alone: any bills must go through the Riigikogu's public discussion and decision-making process.

Conflict-of-interest concerns

The prime minister dismissed concerns about a possible conflict of interest given Herem's ties to the defence industry after his career as commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. All of the candidate's economic interests must stay "outside the door" of the ministry, and compliance will be monitored by law enforcement agencies.

Regarding the property and inventory accounting problems in the Defence Forces flagged by the National Audit Office, Michal said Herem had already acknowledged these issues and tried to fix them, with partial success but not a full resolution. The prime minister separated the property accounting issues from problems in defence procurement, including those related to ammunition deliveries to Ukraine — order in procurement is currently being restored by Elmar Vaher.

Michal also said that, according to information from Herem, former land forces commander Veiko-Vello Palm and former head of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment Kusti Salm will most likely not join the new minister's team. On the dismissal of Defence Ministry Secretary General Kaimo Kuusk, Michal said the decision was based on the same legal grounds previously used to dismiss secretaries general of other ministries, citing unsuccessful cooperation as the reason.