The richest minister

And why this is news

SL Õhtuleht reports the business interests of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Edgar Savisaar makes him the richest of all cabinet ministers. The minister owns two companies—the family real estate company Fixor Holding and MKS Grupp which owns a radio station.

And why is this news? Because the minister would very much like to be known as a “middle class guy,” and this is the spin which is given the media—“We are middle class,” was once famously said in an interview. Mr. Savisaar may indeed fight for the middle class, as he claims. But middle class he is not. On the other hand, fair is fair, and no one should hold the minister’s wealth against him. Rich people can be good governors, too. Just don’t buy the “regular guy” story.