Estonian politician loses jobs after wasteful spending / Article

In Estonia, the former Estonian Minister of Education and Science Mailis Repsa has resigned and is the deputy chairman of the government’s party in the government. This is due to a new scandal over the use of taxpayers’ money for private purposes.

The list of violations of the former minister is long – from organizing a birthday party for public money to a holiday trip by official car.

Estonian Minister of Education and Science Mailis Reps resigned last November, at the time explaining that he was taking responsibility for his political mistakes.

Namely, information came to light that the ministry’s driver regularly led her children to school and interest education groups. It was later revealed that Repsa also went on vacation in a company car and visited Croatia with his family.

Police initiated an investigation into violations of the anti-corruption law and determined the former minister’s status as a suspect in a waste case. Other episodes of the Ministry’s spending of family holidays in Tartu and compensation for airline tickets were also revealed.

Although Reps resigned as minister, she maintained her position in the party.

But now the Estonian newspaper “Ohtuleht” has revealed new facts and reports that the then Minister Repsa also celebrated his 45th anniversary with state money both in the ministry itself and later in a luxurious restaurant in Tallinn. members.

Following the disclosure of this information, Repsa resigned from party management positions.

The politician herself refrains from commenting, but her party members, including Estonian Health Minister Tanel Kikk, who has also taken part in the now scandalous birthday party, call this situation very serious.

“In any case, this is a difficult and unsuccessful situation. And here it is really up to the law enforcement agencies, the ministry and the parties involved to find out what exactly happened, what exactly was paid, on what basis and so on. ”

The party’s chairman and former Estonian prime minister, Jiri Ratass, in whose government Repsa worked, also acknowledged that she now needs to focus on defense, while deeply regretting what has happened.

Mailis Reps is an experienced politician and has served as Minister of Education for several terms. She was once a candidate for the presidency of Estonia.

For some time, Repsa also lived in Latvia and was a lecturer at the Riga Graduate School of Law, where her then Latvian partner Agris Repšs also worked as a lecturer. They have six children, but in 2019 the marriage was divorced.

–