Estonia's Riigikogu Chancellery fires veteran official after €4M tax blunder
Piia Schults, a long-serving official at the Riigikogu Chancellery, has been dismissed after 32 years of service. The decision follows an error in the Gambling Tax Act and a public comment she made to a journalist. Chancellery Director Antero Habicht insists the move was unavoidable and necessary.
The dismissal came as a shock, given Schults' unblemished record over three decades. She had never faced prior criticism before this incident. The legislative mistake in the Gambling Tax Act is expected to cost the state around €4 million in lost revenue for 2026.
Schults responded to journalists after Riigikogu Chancellery Director Antero Habicht made what she described as incorrect public statements. She now plans to challenge her dismissal in court and is working with a lawyer to prepare her case. Schults believes the legal process could help clarify a confusing issue.
Habicht has defended the decision, stating that disciplinary proceedings are handled confidentially and verbally, without political involvement. He refused to comment further, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
The case will now proceed to court, where Schults aims to contest her removal. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future. For now, no further public details about the dismissal or its wider impact have been released.
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