President Ilves Emerges as Favoring Justice Minister's Resignation
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has said that Justice Minister Kristen Michal should step down.
The president's public relations adviser, Toomas Sildam, told uudised.err.ee that Ilves has on several occasions told the prime minister that the minister should resign.
Earlier on Thursday, the newspaper Äripäev reported that according to its sources, Michal will step down in the coming days. Michal, who has been tied up in a party financing scandal, did not provide a personal comment when the newspaper telephoned him, according to Äripäev.
Although reiterating support for Michal at a government press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also hinted that changes could lie ahead.
"I am convinced that the attempted incrimination of the justice minister - the prosecutor has unambiguously confirmed that there is no basis for an accusation, but these accusations which continue to live their own lives in the media - cannot be the reason for a resignation," Ansip said.
"But if one minister's personality is a problem for implementing changes in the field of justice, an obstacle for these chances, and an obstacle more broadly for the activities of the government, then it is natural that one day some kind of decisions will be made,“ Ansip said.
He also said: "Michal's thoughts are moving firmly in one direction.“