Tiidus proposed as new culture minister

  • 2013-12-03
  • From wire reports, TALLINN

The board of the Estonian Reform Party convenes Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, to pick the new culture minister for Estonia after Rein Lang handed in his resignation on Monday; Riigikogu member Urve Tiidus is the likely candidate for the post, reports Postimees.

The situation can change but the leadership of the Reform Party is of the position now that Tiidus (59) has the necessary qualities – experienced, peaceful, capable of reaching compromises, acceptable for culture circles. Tiidus worked for many years as a news anchor and editor in Estonia's national television ETV and the private Kanal2. In 2005-2011 she was the mayor of Kuressaare, capital of Saaremaa island. She is a Reform Party member since 1998.

Tiidus was unwilling to comment, confirming only that she would participate at the party board meeting on Wednesday. "When things are clearer, I will gladly talk longer," she said.

Estonian Culture Minister Rein Lang submitted on Monday is resignation to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. Lang said in his resignation speech at the parliament that he is not resigning because of what happened in the Sirp newspaper, nor because he has made any fundamental mistakes in his job, but because it has become impossible for him to participate in the communication sphere of the Estonian society as a minister. Prime Minster Ansip will take the resignation to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on Wednesday.