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Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives

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(Redirected fromBlue Awakening)
Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives
Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid
AbbreviationERK
LeaderSilver Kuusik
Founded29 June 2024(2024-06-29)
Split fromConservative People's Party of Estonia
Youth wingBlue Awakening
Membership(2024)Increase546
IdeologyNational conservatism
Estonian nationalism
Factions:
Ethnofuturism[a]
Political positionRight-wingtofar-right
ColoursGold
Dark grey
White
Riigikogu
3 / 101
European Parliament(Estonian seats)
0 / 7
Website
eerk.ee

Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives(Estonian:Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid,abbr.ERK) is aright-wingpolitical partyin Estonia founded in 2024. The founders of the party have described themselves as nationalist and conservative. Other topics the novel party intends to focus on include national defense, the economy, the population crisis, local nature and direct democracy.[5]The party was formed after the expulsion of several key figures inEKREwhich was followed by the exodus of hundreds more.

Its MPAnts Froschsits with theEuropean Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliancein theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

History

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After the loss in the2023 Estonian parliamentary election,there had been a debate withinEKREwhether to pacify the rhetoric of the party to come off as more moderate and suitable as a potential coalition partner whenever the chance should arise for EKRE to enter a government coalition.[6]Party leaderMartin Helme,his father and former party leaderMart Helmealongside reported allies such as MPsHelle-Moonika Helme,Kert Kingo,Rain Epler,andAnti Poolametsopposed the idea, while MPsJaak Valge,Henn Põlluaas,and MEPJaak Madisontacitly supported it.[7]So did upcoming leadership election candidateSilver Kuusik,who also sought to improve the internal democracy of the party.[8]

On 9 June 2024, the day of the2024 European Parliament election in Estoniaand one week before the leadership election in EKRE, Martin Helme accused Valge and Põlluaas of acoup attemptwithin the party during his weekly radio show,[9]who later dismissed the claim and said that "it is perfectly natural if there is more than one candidate" in the leadership election.[10]

During EKRE's election night on the same day, Põlluaas and Madison both confirmed ex-EKRE memberPeeter Ernits' claim that "the party's board heard Mart Helme's speech in which he announced that Russia is waging a holy war in Ukraine and that he supports it. The members of the party's board who heard the story were of such visibly upset by the story and tried to call the vice-chairman to order".[10]This confirmation was cited amongst the reasons for the expulsion of Põlluaas, Valge and Kuusik from EKRE for "damaging the reputation of the party" two days later.[11]Madison left shortly thereafter, followed by MPsAlar Laneman,Leo KunnasandAnts Frosch.[12][13][14]

On 16 June 2024, the expelled EKRE membersHelle Kullerkupp,Silver Kuusik, MPs Henn Põlluaas, Jaak Valge, as well as MEP Jaak Madison, former MPRuuben Kaalepand several others announced their intention to form the new party ERK.[15]

Ideology

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The party describes itself as "national conservative".[16]A majority of the current leadership ofBlue Awakening(previously the youth wing of EKRE) decided in July 2024 to join ERK.[17]Blue Awakening has been described asethnofuturist,[18]and its founder and a major proponent of ethnofuturism, Ruuben Kaalep,[3]is currently a member of the party's leadership.[4]

Cultural policy

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The ideological manifesto of the Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives states that "Estonia, the only country of Estonians, must remain a nation-state", adding that "mass immigration is an existential threat to the Estoniannation-state"and that ERK wants" Estonia to continue as a part of European civilization with ancient, Christian and humanist roots ". The party supports" the preservation and promotion of Estonian dialects and indigenous regional languages in school education and elsewhere ". The party is opposed tomulticulturalism.[19]

Economic policy

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ERK's manifesto states that "both the domestic and global economy must serve the interests of people, instead of people serving the economy" but adds that government should refrain from interfering in "areas that function by themselves according to the rules of themarket economy".ERK supportsnuclear power.The manifesto also states that the party considers it reasonable "to enable a favorable legal environment for the development of blockchain-based technologies, including cryptocurrencies, insofar as autonomous currency systems based on these technologies can increase the well-being of people in Estonia".[19]

Regarding taxation, the party states that "theexcess profits of foreign capitalmust be taxed, including the imposition of a flat national protection tax on international banks in return for the stable economic and political environment provided to them "and that" theincome tax ratemust be linked to the number of children ". ERK pushes to simplify the tax system" so that it is understandable to the common man even without a tax calculator ".[19]

Environmental policy

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The party's manifesto states that the party's views onnature conservationare "not driven by sloganeering and fake greenism" and that ERK's goals are "the protection of natural diversity and heritage landscapes". ERK views forests as "a resource for the entire nation-state", considering it important "to further protect natural sanctuaries and complete their mapping".[19]

Social policy

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The party claims that marriage "is a union of a man and a woman" and calls for a referendum on "the concept of marriage". ERK wants to use "counseling and other national measures" to "ensure a definite reduction in domestic violence and abortion". The party claims that freedom of religion, opinion, thought, speech and press "are rights that arise from human nature itself and should not be restricted".[19]

Institutional reform

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ERK opposesonline voting.The party supports amending the Constitution togive citizens the right to initiate referendums.ERK also wants to change the election of thePresident of Estoniafrom an indirect vote in theRiigikoguto a direct election.[19]

Foreign policy

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ERK believes that "Estonia's membership in theEuropean Unionis justified as long as the resulting benefit to the Estonian state and people outweighs the harm "and supports Estonian membership ofNATOas "Estonia's membership in NATO has become inevitable in the security situation". The party's foreign policy outlook aligns withisolationistviews and pushes for closer cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries.[19]

Regarding Russia and theRussian invasion of Ukraine,ERK states that "Russian chauvinismis an existential threat for Estonia "which the party" cannot justify, let alone justify, admire or support in any context ". The manifesto states that" we firmly support Ukraine's struggle for freedom. Ukrainians must be able to decide for themselves the fate of their country, and we respect Ukraine's decisions. As humanists, we are in favor of concluding peace as soon as possible, but the terms of peace must guarantee the independence, security and territorial integrity of Ukraine and other European countries ". The party cautiously supports allowingUkrainian refugeesto seek refuge in Estonia.[19]


On 6 July 2024 the leadership of Blue Awakening decided that the youth organization would leave EKRE and join the Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives.[20]

Notes

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  1. ^Blue Awakening,the former youth wing of EKRE that joined ERK[1]has been described as ethnofuturist.[2]The founder of Blue Awakening and a major proponent of ethnofuturism,Ruuben Kaalep,[3]was among the founders of ERK and is currently a member of the party's leadership.[4]

References

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  1. ^ERR (2024-07-06)."Noorteliikumine Sinine Äratus lahkub EKRE-st ja tahab liituda ERK-iga".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  2. ^ERR, Andres Reimann (2024-03-06)."Sinise Äratuse paremradikalismis kohtub keskkonnaaktivism etnofuturismiga".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  3. ^ab"Etnofuturist Ruuben Kaalep räägib suu puhtaks." Kui sul pole ühtegi eesti esivanemat, ei saa sa olla eestlane "".Eesti Ekspress(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  4. ^ab"Juhatus".Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  5. ^"EKRE-st lahkunud poliitikud otsustasid luua erakonna ERK".Eesti Rahvusringhääling(in Ewe). 16 June 2024.Retrieved16 June2024.
  6. ^ERR (2024-06-10)."Helme: vaidlus peavoolustumisest on meil käinud alates riigikogu valimistest".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  7. ^"Ühe mehe hullumise lugu. Kuidas Martin Helme EKRE õhku lasi".Eesti Ekspress(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  8. ^"Martin Helme sai konkurendi. EKRE juhiks pürgiv Silver Kuusik: mind toetavad inimesed, kes parteis kõrgetel kohtadel".Delfi(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  9. ^ERR (2024-06-09)."Martin Helme: EKRE-s tahetakse teha võimupööret".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  10. ^abERR, Aleksander Krjukov | (2024-06-10)."Põlluaas: peame tegema kõik, et saada valitsusse".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  11. ^ERR (2024-06-11)."EKRE juhatus viskas Põlluaasa, Valge ja Kuusiku erakonnast välja".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  12. ^ERR (2024-06-11)."Madison: minu teekond EKRE-s on lõppemas".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  13. ^ERR (2024-06-14)."Alar Laneman lahkus EKRE-st ja Leo Kunnas fraktsioonist".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  14. ^""See ei ole hetkeemotsioon": Ants Frosch astus samuti EKRE ridadest välja ".Postimees(in Estonian). 2024-06-12.Retrieved2024-06-19.
  15. ^ERR (2024-06-16)."EKRE-st lahkunud poliitikud otsustasid luua erakonna ERK".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-06-19.
  16. ^"Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid".Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid(in Estonian). 2024-07-05.Retrieved2024-07-07.
  17. ^ERR (2024-07-06)."Noorteliikumine Sinine Äratus lahkub EKRE-st ja tahab liituda ERK-iga".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  18. ^Reimann, Andres (2024-03-06)."Sinise Äratuse paremradikalismis kohtub keskkonnaaktivism etnofuturismiga".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  19. ^abcdefgh"Maailmavaade".Eesti Rahvuslased ja Konservatiivid(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
  20. ^ERR (2024-07-06)."Noorteliikumine Sinine Äratus lahkub EKRE-st ja tahab liituda ERK-iga".ERR(in Estonian).Retrieved2024-07-07.
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