6 May

Minister of Defence Mart Laar has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip to stand down as Minister of Defence. “I am accustomed to doing my work with complete dedication, which at the moment I am unable to do. Consequently, I have decided to step down from my post,” the minister of defence said.

The prime minister said that he understood the defence minister's resignation for health reasons and wished him a rapid convalescence. Ansip said that Mart Laar had been a very good defence minister and their co-operation in the government had always been constructive.

Laar thanked Prime Minister Ansip and all the other good people for their sympathy, understanding and caring during his illness. “Now is a time for me to focus on myself; however, I wish to continue to contribute advice and support for the advancement of the nation,” he said.

In keeping with the procedures within in the party, the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union will make the proposal for the defence minister's candidate. The head of government said that it would be the most natural if Urmas Reinsalu, the IRL chairman, would take the defence minister's post.