Martin Helme

Martin Helme (born 24 April 1976) is an Estonian politician and the Minister of Finance since 2019. Since 2020, he has served as the leader of Conservative People's Party,[1] nominally a national conservative party,[2] but often referred to in the media as far-right.[3][4][5] He is the son of the founder and former leader of the party, Mart Helme.[6]

Martin Helme
Minister of Finance
In office
29 April 2019 – 26 January 2021
Prime MinisterJüri Ratas
Preceded byToomas Tõniste
Succeeded byKeit Pentus-Rosimannus
Leader of the Conservative People's Party
Assumed office
4 July 2020
Preceded byMart Helme
Personal details
Born (1976-04-24) 24 April 1976
Tallinn, Estonia
Political partyConservative People's
RelationsMart Helme (father)
Alma materUniversity of Tartu

After EKRE joined the governing coalition after the 2019 election, Helme was appointed to Jüri Ratas' second cabinet as Estonia's finance minister.[7][8]

Political views

Helme's views have been described as eurosceptic and populist.[9] As one of the key figures in EKRE, Martin Helme advocates for national conservatism. He has been an opponent of Estonia's membership of the European Union and the use of the Euro as its currency.[10] He has claimed that immigration is endangering the sovereignty of European states, including Estonia.[11] Helme has been a vocal critic of the UN's Migration Pact.

In the area of civil rights, Helme has campaigned against the passing of the Cohabitation Act in Estonia, which entitled same-sex couples to register as civil partners. He later campaigned to repeal the act.[12]

He has been a vocal critic of the rights of the Russian-speaking minority to speak Russian in the Estonian educational system, and opposed the addition of a Russian-language song to the Estonian Song Festival.

Helme, then a board member of EKRE,[13] caused controversy in 2013 for his views on immigration. During a TV interview about riots in socially segregated suburbs in Sweden, he said that "Estonia shouldn't allow things to go as far as in England, France and Sweden. Our immigration policy should have one simple rule: if (they're) black, show the door. As simple as that. We shouldn't allow this problem to emerge in the first place".[14] The Estonian expression, "Kui on must, näita ust" rhymed, gaining widespread notoriety and becoming one of the main slogans connected to EKRE.[15] In March 2019, Helme defended himself by saying that he had made the comments in 2013 before he was a politician, but nonetheless refused to condemn or retract them, stating that he would always stand against mass immigration.[16]

References
  1. "Martin Helme elected chairman of EKRE". ERR.
  6. "Juhatus - EKRE – Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond".
  7. Olsen, Jan M.; Tanner, Jari (29 April 2019). "Nationalist party enters Estonia's government". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  8. Gershkovich, Evan (30 April 2019). "Estonia joins the far-right club". Politico. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  9. Tanner, Jari (3 March 2019). "Center-right party tops Estonia vote, but populists win, too". AP NEWS.
  10. "Martin Helme: koos euroliiduga saame ka Venemaa". Arvamus. 23 October 2012.
  11. "EKRE: immigratsioon ohustab Euroopa rahvusriikide suveräänsust". Delfi. 14 May 2015.
  12. Uudised, Uued (17 October 2017). "Debatt riigikogus: Martin Helme selgitab kooseluseaduse tühistamise vajadust". Uued Uudised.
  13. ERR (29 May 2013). "Conservative Politician: If You're Black, Go Back". ERR.
  14. "Martin Helme soovitus immigratsioonipoliitikaks: kui on must, näita ust". Postimees. 29 May 2013.
  15. "Aadu Must koalitsiooniläbirääkimistest EKRE-ga: jälgin mureliku tähelepanuga kõiki arenguid, aga hauda endale ei kaeva". Delfi. 12 March 2019.
  16. "Martin Helme seisukohast "Kui on must, näita ust": see väljend pannakse ilmselt mu hauakivile - Uudised.tv3.ee". uudised.tv3.ee.
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