Prime Minister Andrus Ansip replied to the interpellation (No. 239) concerning the appointment of board members of the state companies, submitted on 16 May by Members of the Riigikogu Indrek Raudne, Ken-Marti Vaher, Helir-Valdor Seeder and Tiit Niilo.

 

Prime Minister replied to the interpellation related to the problems of AS Werol Tehased and the management of the company. “I regret to say that from the establishment of the enterprise to the expropriation of its shares, this enterprise has achieved no remarkable success in management.” Answering the question about politicians’ membership in supervisory boards of companies, Mr. Ansip stated that the present system was functioning and would be very successful if used in the correct way. “I am not of the opinion that politicians should not participate in supervisory boards of state companies, quite the contrary, I think that the state must own companies which function in public interests, not only for profit. Therefore the membership of politicians in supervisory boards of companies is in my opinion completely acceptable in every way, “ the Prime Minister explained.

 

The Prime Minister also replied to the interpellation (No. 240) concerning the possible sale of diplomas in the Estonian Business School, submitted on 18 May by Members of the Riigikogu Tõnis Lukas, Ene Ergma, Marko Mihkelson, Siiri Sisask, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Trivimi Velliste, Mart Nutt, Indrek Raudne, Andres Herkel and Mihhail Lotman.

 

Mr. Ansip stated that the EBS case was certainly regrettable. He expressed his hope that such things would never again happen in any Estonian higher educational institution. The audit had shown that persons without necessary training were enrolled to master’s studies. In the opinion of the Prime Minister the persons who made decisions about the conformity of qualification had made mistakes and did not intentionally admit persons without qualification in the master’s studies. Mr. Ansip explained that the procedure had been clarified: “I hope that such cases will not be possible in the future.”

 

During the open microphone Toomas Alatalu took the floor.

 

 

 

The Riigikogu Press Service