Riigikogu Speaker returns Reinsalu's inquiry meant for PM Michal on ammunition supply contracts

Isamaa party chairman Urmas Reinsalu had addressed an inquiry to Riigikogu Speaker Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200), intended for Prime Minister Kristen Michal, concerning contracts for the Estonian Defence Forces' ammunition procurement. Hussar, however, returned the document to Reinsalu, suggesting the matter instead be raised during the Riigikogu's government question time.

Reinsalu wrote on social media that he had sent the inquiry to Michal on Monday. According to Reinsalu, Hussar returned it explaining that, in his view, the matter did not concern a problem tied to compliance with legislation that would warrant public discussion.

In his inquiry, the Isamaa leader asked whether the government had discussed intermediary contracts for ammunition supplies, what kind of oversight Michal considered necessary should problems arise, and whether the defence minister had informed the prime minister about the situation surrounding these contracts. Reinsalu also asked whether, in Michal's assessment, there had been any violations of law or actions contrary to administrative rules in arranging the intermediary contracts for ammunition supplies.

Hussar's explanation

In his written reply, Hussar explained that submitting a formal inquiry implies the MP believes there is a problem with the implementation of legal acts that should be publicly discussed at a Riigikogu sitting — for instance, if something was overlooked or done improperly. If the aim is instead to obtain information on a specific matter within the addressee's competence — such as the state of affairs, figures, background information or a description of the actual situation — a written question should be submitted under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act. If a broader discussion is intended, free of the restrictions placed on formal inquiries, a question for government question time is the appropriate format.

Reinsalu said he was nonetheless able to put questions to Michal on Wednesday. He said he asked the prime minister when he had learned, in his capacity as PM, about the problems with the ammunition supply intermediary contracts. Michal assured him he learned at the same time as the Estonian public — an answer Reinsalu said surprised him greatly, given that, according to available information, the matter had already been reported to the Security Police back in 2024. Reinsalu added that the prime minister was still unable, as of Wednesday, to explain what had actually happened based on the information available to him, or why payments to the company Datasel had continued.