Six of the proposed 15 ministers in Estonia's next coalition have never held ministerial office before, four from the Social Democrats and two from Isamaa's.
Ministers of Estonia s outgoing government are to receive a benefit equaling six months pay, totaling €33,975.
A government minister s monthly salary is €5,662 and upon leaving office, a benefit of €33,975 will be paid out to each of them, spokespeople for the government said.
The benefit will only be paid to the ministers who will neither take up a seat in the parliament nor start work in the incoming government.
The ministers who are joining the parliament will not receive the benefit; instead, they will earn a monthly salary of a parliament member amounting to €4,330 with their reimbursement of expenses totaling up to one-third of the monthly remuneration.
Estonian population minister says psychiatric care must also be provided for minors 2021-01-11 BNS/TBT Staff
TALLINN – Estonian Minister of Population Riina Solman sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs her position on the draft Mental Health Act currently being coordinated, according to which psychiatric care must also be provided to minors in need.
According to Solman, it is important that families living in understanding relationships are not disregarded with the bill, but at the same time, it would be possible to quickly help children who do not receive the necessary help and care from their parents or legal representative. I consider it necessary to supplement the content of this very important bill and to take better account of the different needs of children and families, Solman was quoted by Interior Ministry spokespeople as saying.
Estonian population minister, Council of Churches to renew cooperation agreement 2020-12-16 BNS/TBT Staff
TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Population Riina Solman is to sign an agreement with the Estonian Council of Churches on Wednesday afternoon on continued cooperation between the state and religious associations.
Solman noted that it is particularly important that religious associations and the state should engage in frequent exchange of information during the current coronavirus crisis to prevent a spread of the virus and a closure of churches, which would entail adverse effects on people s mental health, advisor to the minister Priit Poiklik told BNS.
Church congregations across Estonia are adopting additional safety measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the festive season after the government said they could remain open.
Representatives from the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Estonian Catholic Church, Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Union of Evangelical Christians and Baptists, Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate told ERR they will all be following the rules set by the government.
Masks will be mandatory, capacity restrictions will be followed and singing has either been suspended or choir sizes greatly reduced. Religious objects used to perform ceremonies will also be disinfected before and after use.