Kalle Laanet

Kalle Laanet
Laanet in 2021
Minister of Justice
In office
17 April 2023 – 1 April 2024
Prime MinisterKaja Kallas
Preceded byLea Danilson-Järg
Succeeded byMadis Timpson[1]
Minister of Defence
In office
26 January 2021 – 18 July 2022
Prime MinisterKaja Kallas
Preceded byJüri Luik
Succeeded byHanno Pevkur
Minister of the Interior
In office
13 April 2005 – 5 April 2007
Prime MinisterAndrus Ansip
Preceded byMargus Leivo
Succeeded byJüri Pihl
Personal details
Born (1965-09-25) 25 September 1965
PartyReform Party (2014-present)
Centre Party (2005-2012)
Alma materConcordia International University Estonia

Kalle Laanet (born 25 September 1965) is an Estonian politician and police officer. He is member of XIV Riigikogu. Since 2014 he belongs to Estonian Reform Party.[2] He served as Minister of Justice from April 2023 to April 2024 in the third cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

2002–04 he was police prefect of Tallinn (Estonian: Tallinna politseiprefekt).[2]

2005–07 he was Minister of the Interior (Estonian: Eesti siseminister).[2]

He has been member of XI, XII, XIII and XIV Riigikogu.[2]

2021-22 he was the Minister of the Defence (Estonian: Eesti kaitseminister).[2]

Laanet was sworn in as Minister of Justice in the third cabinet of Kaja Kallas on 17 April 2023.[3][4][5] He left the cabinet on 1 April 2024, being succeeded by Madis Timpson.[6]

In May 2025, the Riigikogu voted to lift Laanet's parliamentary immunity to allow criminal proceedings concerning alleged misuse of expenses reimbursements to continue; Laanet said he had not intended to claim public funds unlawfully and that he had disclosed the rental contracts.[7]

On 9 February 2026, the Harju County Court found Laanet guilty of fraud related to housing rent reimbursements claimed in 2022–2023 while serving as minister and later as a member of the Riigikogu.[8] Prosecutors said the reimbursements were based on a lease with a company owned by his stepson and totaled over €13,000; the court held that a stepchild counts as a related party and imposed a suspended prison sentence of one year and four months.[8][9]


References

  1. ^ "FOTOD | President Karis nimetas Madis Timpsoni uueks justiitsministriks". Delfi.
  2. ^ a b c d e 101 lühielulugu (e-publication) (in Estonian). Eesti Rahvusraamatukogu, Riigikogu Kantselei. 2019.
  3. ^ "Reformierakond avalikustas oma valitsusdelegatsiooni". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Coalition agreement: VAT, income tax to rise by 2 percent". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Riigikogu gives Kaja Kallas mandate to form new government". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ^ "FOTOD | President Karis nimetas Madis Timpsoni uueks justiitsministriks". Delfi (in Estonian). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Riigikogu decides to strip former minister of parliamentary immunity". ERR News. Estonian Public Broadcasting. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Former minister and ex-MP Kalle Laanet found guilty of fraud". ERR News. Estonian Public Broadcasting. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Kohus mõistis Kalle Laaneti tingimisi vangi". ERR (in Estonian). Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  • Media related to Kalle Laanet at Wikimedia Commons