IRL Board Members Dismayed With Review of Residence Permits Affair
Three board members expressed their dissatisfaction with the IRL board's actions today, involving a motion to oust two ministers and several prominent IRL figures.
“We believe it necessary for the individuals involved to accept further political and moral responsibility,” a press release from MEP Tunne Kelam, and MPs Andres Herkel and Tõnis Lukas said.
Among the party leadership's shortcomings was a delayed reaction to the news last week drawing light on a scheme to sell Estonian residence permits - and therefore EU residence - to Russian millionaires.
After the party review of the affair, critics also attacked the board for rudely discrediting the voices of concerned party members; doing little to regain trust for IRL; and still owing an explanation to the public.
Meeting today, the board rejected a motion from 79 IRL members who requested that two members be thrown out of the party, and that an MP and two ministers be removed from their posts. The two party members to be thrown out had already resigned from their positions in Parliament and Tallinn City Council. Yet four of the five individuals are still themselves serving on the IRL board.
Kelam, Herkel and Lukas were dismayed that the motion against those entangled in the affair had been packaged together for a single vote by the board, instead of considering the political fate of each individual separately.
The appeal of the 79 members had political undertones of its own, however, having been initiated by members loyal to one of party's two wings - relics from when IRL was formed from two separate political parties, Pro Patria and Res Publica, in 2006. There has been speculation that removing the two ministers, who belong to the Res Publica wing, could provide opportunity for rearranging the dynamics of power in the party.
The three board members who expressed discontent with party leadership are also aligned with the Pro Patria faction.
Ott Tammik