Michal, Pevkur possible candidates for new chairman of Reform Party
Candidates for the next chairman of the Reform Party include former Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kristen Michal and former Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. Current party chairman Taavi Rõivas has hinted that he is inclined to support Michal as his successor.
"I am satisfied with the assessment that Kristen Michal may become chairman of the party at one point, and if I nominated him as a candidate for chairman of the parliamentary group, you can be sure that we have discussed these things together," Rõivas said in an interview with daily Postimees.
Rõivas, who is vying for the position of Vice President of the Riigikogu, stated that he didn't sense any aching pressure within the party in regards to his own current continuing leadership thereof. "Rather, being left out of the government has had a unifying effect on the team," observed the former prime minister.
Daily Eesti Päevaleht reported that Michal is currently essentially leading the party, supported by those Reform members who want a decisive player. According to information available to the paper, however, Michal's support within the party is not as widespread as that of former defense minister Hanno Pevkur, who, in getting along well with everyone, would act as a unifier.
Eesti Päevaleht added that the majority of the Reform Party found that there was no need to organize elections for the chairmanship of the party sooner than the scheduled party congress set to take place next May.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla