Kristen Michal

Kristen Michal
Minister of Justice
In office
6 April 2011 – 10 December 2012
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Preceded by Rein Lang
Succeeded by Hanno Pevkur
Personal details
Born 2 July 1975
Tallinn, Estonia
Nationality Estonian
Political party Estonian Reform Party
Alma mater Academy Nord

Kristen Michal (born 2 July 1975) is an Estonian politician and a member of the Estonian Reform Party. He was Estonia's minister of justice from 2011 to 2012.

Early life and education

Michal was born in Tallinn on 2 July 1975.[1] He studied law at Academy Nord and graduated in 2009. He has been pursuing master's study in law at Tallinn University's Law School since 2009.[1]

Career

Michal worked as an advisor at different levels for the Reform Party from 1996 to 2002. He became an advisor to then prime minister Siim Kallas in 2002. Michal served as the Elder of the Tallinn City Centre for one year (2002-2003).[1] In 2003, he was named as the secretary general of the Estonian Reform Party and held this post until 2011. Michal has been a member of the Riigikogu since 2005.[1] He was appointed minister of justice on 6 April 2011,[2] replacing another Reform Party member Rein Lang. Michal's term ended on 10 December 2012 when he resigned from office.[3] He was replaced by Hanno Pevkur as justice minister.[4]

Controversy

In May 2012, it was claimed by Silver Meikar, a Reform Party member and a former member of parliament, that the Reform Party had received donations from dubious sources for years.[5] He further argued that Michal had informed about these donations. Both Michal and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip denied these allegations. However, upon these accusations, the delegates from the Council of Europe's GRECO anti-corruption watchdog visited the country in June 2012.[5] On 31 July 2012, the Estonian State Prosecutor's Office announced that Michal and Kalev Lillo, another Reform Party member, were suspects of this event and that they both had been interrogated.[6] Michal was investigated on accusations of money laundering and illegal party financing.[7][8] On 10 September 2012, the first day of parliamentary session, the Social Democratic Party's faction started a petition process for the resignation of Michal through a vote of no confidence.[9] However, petition failed on 19 September 2012 when the party gave up the process.[10] Michal announced that if he would be found guilty, he would resign from his post.[9] Estonian State Prosecutor's Office closed the case on 15 October 2012.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Kristan Michal". Justice Ministry. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "New Government assumes office". Government Communication Unit. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Kristen Michal resigns as Minister of Justice". Baltic Business. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Estonia Reshuffles Government After Graft Scandal". IPOT News. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "European anti-corruption watchdog eyes Estonia". Tallinn: EU Business. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Tere, Juhan (31 July 2012). "Estonian Prosecutor's Office declares Michal and Lillo suspects". Tallinn: The Baltic Course. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Estonian Justice Minister in Money Laundering Investigation". Tallinn: assist america. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Justice minister in probe" (PDF). Arab Times Online. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Social Democrats Pursue Vote of No Confidence in Minister". ERR News. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Petition for Vote of No Confidence Against Justice Minister Fails". ERR. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  11. ↑ Tere, Juhan (15 October 2012). "Estonian State Prosecutor's Office closes Reform Party criminal case". The Baltic Course (Tallinn). Retrieved 15 October 2012.
Political offices
Preceded by
Rein Lang		 Minister of Justice
2011-2012 		Succeeded by
Hanno Pevkur