Mart Helme

Mart Helme ([ˈmɑrt ˈxɛlʲmɛ], born 31 October 1949) is an Estonian politician, Minister of the Interior since 29 April 2019. He was the long time chairman of the national conservative Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) from 13 April 2013 to 4 July 2020 when he was succeeded by his son Martin Helme.[1] A historian by profession, he also served as Estonia's ambassador to Russia from 1995 to 1999. Some media outlets have described him as a right wing populist.[2][3][4]

Mart Helme
Minister of the Interior
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 April 2019
Prime Minister	Jüri Ratas
Preceded by	Katri Raik
Leader of the Conservative People's Party
In office 13 April 2013 – 4 July 2020
Preceded by	Margo Miljand
Succeeded by	Martin Helme
Estonian Ambassador to Russia
In office 1995–1999
President	Lennart Meri
Preceded by	Jüri Kahn
Succeeded by	Tiit Matsulevitš
Personal details
Born	(1949-10-31) 31 October 1949 Pärnu, Estonia
Political party	Conservative People's Party (2012–present) People's Union (2003–2005) Res Publica Party (2002)
Spouse(s)	Helle-Moonika Helme
Children	6, including Martin
Alma mater	University of Tartu

Early life

Mart Helme was born on 31 October 1949 in Pärnu.

After graduating from high school in Pärnu in 1968, he studied history at the University of Tartu and graduated in 1973.

In his youth, Helme played in several bands, including Hübriid (which also featured future 2 Quick Start singer-songwriter Pearu Paulus).

Political career

Helme joined the Estonian diplomatic service in 1994. In 1995, he was appointed as the Estonian ambassador to Russia by President Lennart Meri. His tenure lasted until 1999. While in Moscow, he took part in the border negotiations with Russia.

From 2003 to 2005, Helme was a member of the agrarian-centrist People's Union of Estonia. In 2012, when the party merged with the Estonian Patriotic Movement, Helme became a member of the new Conservative People's Party of Estonia. A year later, he was elected its leader.

He has said that "Estonian politicians should honestly admit that our choice is between staying with those who are creating a United States of Europe and joining those who desire a Europe of nation states. The Conservative People's Party doesn't see a place for Estonia in a United States of Europe."[5]

In 2015 parliamentary election, Helme was elected to parliament with 6,714 individual votes[6] and in the 2019 parliamentary election he increased his support to 9,170 individual votes.

In March 2019 Mart Helme said to the press that he wishes that one day his party would be the sole ruling party of Estonia.[7]

After EKRE's receiving of 17.8% of the votes in the 2019 parliamentary election and the subsequent inclusion in the governing coalition, Helme was appointed to Jüri Ratas' second cabinet as Estonia's interior minister.[8][9] On May 2, 2019, Helme was also named First Deputy Prime Minister.[10]

Media controversy

Mart Helme has made headlines in the media with some of his opinions.

"The number of negroes in Tallinn has grown explosively."

— Mart Helme, speaking during the opening of a local party office.[11]

"The police are already overwhelmed with work. Why should they be safeguarding the parades of perverts?"

— Mart Helme, speaking about the LGBT Pride parade of 2017[12]

In December 2019, Helme said in a radio interview that a “cashier” had become Finland’s prime minister and was now seeking “to liquidate Finland” – a reference to the election of Sanna Marin as prime minister of Finland, who once worked as a cashier as the world’s youngest serving head of government. This prompted an apology from Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia’s president to Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, who also asked that the apology be conveyed to Marin and the government. [13]

On February 27, 2020, Helme stated at a government press conference that the common cold had been renamed as the coronavirus and that in his youth nothing like that existed. He recommended wearing warm socks and mustard patches as well as spreading goose fat on one's chest as treatments for the virus. Helme also said that the virus would pass within a few days to a week just like the common cold.[14]

Personal life

Helme's current wife, Helle-Moonika Helme, is an MP in the Riigikogu for EKRE.[15] Mart Helme has a son, Martin Helme, also a prominent member of EKRE, from a previous marriage. He owns the Suure-Lähtru manor. He has worked as a journalist, publisher and diplomat.[16] He has also been a farmer and a singer.

References

1. "Martin Helme elected chairman of EKRE". ERR.
2. "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
3. Press, Associated (March 3, 2019). "Populist party gains as Estonia faces possible power swap". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
4. "Center-right party tops Estonia vote, but populists win, too". ABC News. March 7, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
5. "EKRE general assembly elects Mart Helme chairman". News.postimees.ee.
6. "Riigikogu valimised 2015: Detailne hääletamistulemus". Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
7. "Mart Helme: "Meie eesmärk on teha ühel päeval ainuvalitsus." | Õhtuleht". Ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved March 9, 2019.
8. Olsen, Jan M.; Tanner, Jari (April 29, 2019). "Nationalist party enters Estonia's government". Associated Press. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
9. Gershkovich, Evan (April 30, 2019). "Estonia joins the far-right club". Politico. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
10. Tanner, Jari (May 2, 2019). "Estonia minister calls president 'emotionally heated woman'". Associated Press. Retrieved May 5, 2019. The party’s role in governing expanded Thursday with Mart Helme’s appointment as first deputy prime minister, a position that includes leading the Cabinet during the prime minister’s absence.
11. "Mart Helme vihakõne koosolekul: Tallinnas on plahvatuslikult kasvanud neegrite hulk. Kui neile vastu pead koputada, siis see on õõnespuit!". Delfi.ee. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
12. "Mart Helme tänasest geiparaadist: Meie juhitavates omavalitsustes ei antaks kindlasti geidele marssideks või paraadideks luba. – Õhtuleht". Ohtuleht.ee. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
13. Estonia minister makes ‘cashier’ jibe at Finland’s PM by Richard Milne Financial Times 16 December 2019
14. Vasli, Karoliina (February 27, 2020). "VIDEO | Mart Helme: külmetushaigus on nüüd siis ümber ristitud koroonaviiruseks. Mingit hädaolukorda Eestis pole". Delfi. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
15. ERR (May 2, 2019). "Kuusik replacement should be woman, says Estonia 200 candidate". ERR.
16. "Mart Helme on olnud muusik, ajakirjanik, farmer, diplomaat ja mõisnik". Pärnu Postimees. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.

External links

• Suure-Lähtru manor

Party political offices
Preceded by Margo Miljand	Leader of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia 2013–2020	Succeeded by Martin Helme
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Jüri Kahn	Estonian Ambassador to Russia 1995–1999	Succeeded by Tiit Matsulevitš
Political offices
Preceded by Katri Raik	Minister of the Interior 2019–present	Incumbent