Parliament seeks five-year term for armed forces commander

  • 2006-10-26
  • By TBT staff
TALLINN - The government has backed amendments to the Defense Forces Service Act which seek to limit the defense force commander's appointed term to five years.
The parliamentary groups that filed the bill said a five-year term was in line with other NATO member states. The bill also stipulates that the military commander can serve for a maximum of two terms, and makes it impossible for him to step down times of war without a notice period of four months.
Under current law, the commander is appointed for an indefinite term.
The incumbent commander, Vice Adm. Tarmo Kouts, tendered his resignation in late August and is about to enter politics. Kouts has served the post since September 2000.