Reform Party’s financier hides behind a Swiss bank account
30.05.2012, 10:40Starting from 2009, the list of people who have donated money to the Reform Party has included a mysterious investor who is hiding behind a Swiss bank account, writes Äripäev.
This unknown financier has donated money to the party before the three last election campaigns, ie Europarliament, local government and national elections.
The bank account that is being used for the transactions is in the Swiss-based Bank Julius Baer and Co.
The company involved in the financing is Fridenter OÜ that first belonged to Remo Tiigirand, a Reform Party member who owned the company until the end of 2008.
Starting from the beginning of 2009, the company was taken over by a secretive investor and has now been publishing books and leaflets for the Reform Party that are used for election propaganda.
Among others, the company has been publishing Paremad Uudised (Better News) newsletter and the party’s newsletter Reformikiri.
The party has so far been hiding the fact that these publications are printed by a private company.
While before 2009 Fidenter has almost no economic activity, it changed in 2009 when Estonia hold local elections and the company had revenues of about 7 million kroons.
Among others, Fidenter owns four brands that are used by Reform Party (Reformikiri, Paremad Uudised, Tallinna Teataja and Eesti Teataja).
When Äripäev asked party officials about Fidenter, the party first refused to comment either in person or by phone.
Yesteday, Äripäev received an e-mail from Remo Tiigirand in which he does not say who he sold his company in 2008 although he has remained its board chairman.
So, asks Äripäev, why is the ruling party led by PM Andrus Ansip so keen that the identity of the financier who wishes remains anonymous?
Also, is justice minister Kristen Michal lying when he say that he does not know who is printing the party newspaper? After all, Michal was secretary general of the Reform Party at the time when the party started to cooperate with Fidenter.