Estonian Prime Minister J. Ratas resigned due to accusations of corruption against the parties.



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The Center Party’s board of directors met on Tuesday night to discuss the situation in which the Center Party and five people, including party members, had been found suspect in a criminal investigation into the financing of the Porto Franco project.

Among those people are Mikhail Korb, general secretary of the Center Party, who has also decided to resign, an advisor to Finance Minister Kersti Kracht and businessman Hillar Teder. These people are suspected of bribery and influence peddling.

Addressing journalists, J. Ratas welcomed the opportunity to work for Estonia for four years as Prime Minister, to help improve people’s living standards and strengthen the country’s position in the international arena.

„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Juri Ratas

„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Juri Ratas

“Politics also have to make very difficult decisions when it comes to difficult situations. The politician must be prepared for that,” said the Prime Minister.

It is true that J.Ratas will remain the interim head of government for the time being, until a new coalition is formed. The latter may be made up of the same political forces as the Center Party, the right-wing Isamaa and the far-right Estonian Conservative People’s Party.

He noted that the decision to resign was made after several hours of consultations with party members.

“This decision, as I said, was made after consultations with the Estonian Party Central Board, party faction members and people closest to my post. There is no doubt that there could be other solutions, but only this one seems to be. the right one, “added J. Rat.

“The accusations made today by the Attorney General’s Office do not mean that anyone is actually at fault, but they inevitably cast a serious shadow over all parties involved. In such a situation, the decision to give the opportunity to shed light on all the circumstances and clarify everything through one’s own resignation seems to be the only right thing to do.

In conditions of political and social peace. I am confident that investigating officers will do their job in a professional and impartial manner and determine the ultimate truth, “said J. Rat.

Rat said he was not aware of Porto Franco’s suspicious financing plans.

Photo by Postimees / Port Franco Project

Photo by Postimees / Port Franco Project

“Although I take political responsibility, I can confidently say that as Prime Minister I have not made any malicious or deliberately bad decisions. Today, I interacted with the Attorney General’s Office and the Internal Security Service, who confirmed that they had no suspicions about me.

As head of government in the Porto Franco case, I did not feel that any minister or political party was trying to divert government decisions in an illegal direction, ”said Rat.

It noted that the decision to lend had been made on the basis of an offer from the state fund Kredex and that the terms of the loan were similar, for example, to the terms of the decision of the ferry operator Tallink.

“As president of the Center Party, I can also confirm with all my sincerity that under the leadership of the party I have never taken actions that are detrimental to justice or the sense of justice, and I have not accepted them. Of course, as party chairman, I must also take responsibility for ensuring that this issue is resolved unequivocally, clearly and fairly, ”added J. Rat.



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