Marti Kuusik. Source: Anna Aurelia Minev/ERR
Kuusik handed in his resignation to the prime minister on Tuesday, saying he was taking the step for the sake of the smooth-running of the new administration, protecting his family and restoring his reputation. President Kersti Kaljulaid then released Kuusik from the post, it is reported.
Revelations came to light shortly before his entering office to the effect that Kuusik had been stopped by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), driving over 20 km/h above the speed limit, in a 50 km/h zone, in the town of Rakvere, the morning after the March 3 general election. The PPA conducted a breathalyzer test after stopping him, which demonstrated he had trace amounts of alcohol in his system. However, these infractions were not thought to be any obstacle to being appointed minister, for foreign trade and IT, and President Kersti Kaljulaid duly signed off on the cabinet, including Kuusik, last Wednesday.
Soon afterwards, however, the allegations of domestic violence started circulating in the media, claims which Kuusik and his ex-wife (the latter contacted ERR to put her side of the story across) denied, calling them slanderous. Mr Kuusik said there was no substance to the claims directly to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, when asked.
On Monday, at the oath-taking ceremony in the Riigikogu, the president left the chamber when it was Kuusik's turn to take his oath. He then had to make the customary salutation, after signing to oath, to an empty chair.
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By taking up a ministerial post, Kuusik would have lost parliamentary immunity, and the PPA announced they had started an investigation into the case, Monday evening. The prime minister stated that there was no legal provision in place for removing Kuusik from his post, once sworn-in.
"I filed the application today to the chairman of the party Mart Helme, and Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, for my resignation from the post of minister. Let me again confirm that the accusations made against me are slander - I am not someone who engages in violence," Kuusik said.
"As of now, the decision of the prosecutor's office to start criminal proceedings against me has been added to the terrifying media attack launched against me in recent days. In a situation like this it is not possible for me to carry out my work as minister. Furthermore, the rest of the government is not able to work normally," the statement reads.
Kuusik expressed a desire to ensure the government taking office has a conducive working atmosphere, to remove his party from attack, and to rescue his family from the psychological terror he says has been taking place in the media.
"I am giving up the office of minister, not because the accusations against me are true, but, on the contrary, in order to focus on defending myself in the criminal proceedings and restoring my good name," the minister from the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) said.
https://news.err.ee/935161/kuu...
