Defense Forces integrity in question after Reform Party campaign clip
By granting a permission to film a political campaign video at Ämari Air Base, the Defense Forces violated the law, Eesti Päevaleht writes.
The fresh Reform Party campaign video clip, depicting Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas walking in action-movie style on the runway of the most important air bases in Estonia, while fighter jets roar overhead, took many by surprise. Some commentators immediately raised questions about the ethics of using a national air base for a party advertisement.
Eesti Päevaleht said today that it would have only been possible on the permission of the Defense Forces. But there's a paragraph in the legislative acts that explicitly prohibit for any Defense Forces member to give orders or use his power in the interests of a political party. In effect, the law has been violated, according to paper.
The daily asked for a comment from the Ministry of Defense and the command center of the Defense Forces, but neither agreed to respond.