Estonian government dismisses Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk
At its meeting on Thursday, the Estonian government dismissed Kaimo Kuusk from the post of permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defense. The proposal was submitted by the incumbent defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, ERR News reports.
Change in ministry leadership
Kuusk's dismissal is linked to the upcoming change in the head of the defense ministry. Defense minister candidate Martin Herem made the departure of the current permanent secretary a condition of his appointment in order to have more freedom in personnel decisions.
Under Estonia's Public Service Act, a permanent secretary may be dismissed if, in the minister's opinion, cooperation between the minister and the secretary is not working. At the same time, the law stipulates that such an official cannot be dismissed earlier than six months after starting cooperation with the minister.
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Positions of Kuusk and Pevkur
In a letter to Defense Ministry employees on Tuesday, Kaimo Kuusk said that he would not submit a resignation letter and that the government would have to dismiss him from his post.
Hanno Pevkur, who is also due to leave his post but continues to hold it for now, explained the decision by the lack of basic trust and the possibility of cooperation between the minister and the ministry's highest-ranking official. According to him, Martin Herem unequivocally ruled out cooperation with Kuusk, and the development of national defense must not become hostage to mutual distrust.
Pevkur also noted that in the current security situation, a conflict in the leadership of the defense ministry that could affect the ministry's work and the management of national defense should not be deliberately left in place. He stressed that the decision does not diminish Kuusk's contribution to Estonia's defense. Kuusk's last working day in the post will be September 15. He had held the position since September 1, 2024.
