Mikser: Ossinovski scandal does impact party
Defense Minister Sven Mikser, who was replaced as head of the Social Democrats by Jevgeni Ossinovski, said the scandal involving Ossinovski's father, Oleg Ossinovski, does have an effect on the party, but this should be taken calmly.
“News which negatively touch Oleg Ossinovski also, to some extent, cast a shadow over his son. But it is clear we do not live in a society where sons and daughters are punished for the crimes of the parents, and vice versa,” Mikser said.
Ossinovski's company Skinest is involved in a corruption case in Latvia, where, allegedly the company gave Latvian Railways' CEO 500,000 euros in bribes to win a tender. The case only broke at the beginning of August and is yet to reach the court.
Oleg Ossinovski is also Estonia's richest man, and for years has been the Social Democrat's biggest financial backer.
“From the party's point of view, the father is the father and the son is the son. Both are adults and both can be held accountable. Lets stay calm,” Mikser said.
Editor: J.M. Laats