IRL Mulling Replacement for Laar
At their meeting today, March 5, the IRL MPs are expected to discuss the issue of finding a temporary replacement for Minister of Defense Mart Laar, who was hospitalized with a stroke on February 18.
Last week news came that Laar's recovery was complicated by pneumonia, making his return to politics in the next six months unlikely.
Party members are looking to their new chairman, Urmas Reinsalu, to fill the post, Postimees reported. However, Reinsalu has expressed a desire to instead concentrate his efforts on healing the lingering rift between former members of the Pro Patria Union and Res Publica, whose parties merged to form IRL in 2006.
IRL is also considering an experienced ministry insider, Secretary of Defense Mikk Marran, for the job.
Since Laar's stroke, his duties have been filled by current Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo, who served as Defense Minister from 2007 to 2011.
Steve Roman