Estonia’s President Kersti Kaljulaid said on Tuesday she had relieved a minister from the far-right party EKRE of his duties, just a day after the new government was sworn in, ONA reports quoting Reuters.
The president said she removed the IT and foreign trade minister, Marti Kuusik, at the request of the prime minister and gave no more details of the reasons.
But the move came after police said they were investigating Kuusik following an Ekspress Group news report linking him to domestic violence. He has denied any wrongdoing.
“In addition to a horrible media attack against me the prosecutor’s office decided to start a criminal investigation. In this situation I cannot work as a minister. Also the rest of the government cannot work normally,” he said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Prime Minister Juri Ratas echoed his comments.
“In the current situation, the government could not really start its work and fulfill its program. Hence foreign trade and IT minister Marti Kuusik requested to leave his duties today,” Ratas said in a statement.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
