Estonian Conservative People's Party picks chair as candidate for Tallinn mayor

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu / Postimees

 Leaders of the Tallinn chapter of the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) on Thursday put before party chairman Mart Helme a proposal to run in the upcoming local polls as No. 1 on the party's ticket in the capital city and its candidate for mayor which Helme accepted.

"Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and the largest self-government unit, in our view it is logical for the chairman of the party to run in elections here. And once the chairman of the party is a candidate, it is equally logical for him to be at the top of the ticket," explained Martin Helme, head of the regional organization and the son of Mart Helme.

Mart Helme said it is necessary to offer a clear and strong alternative that would impress voters to the Center Party which currently holds power in the city. "I have to admit that parliamentary parties' decisions to field their second-string names in Tallinn baffles me," he said.

In his words, this will not motivate voters who want changes to vote for them. "Our aim is to bring into the governing of the capital city and Estonian politics in general vigorous fresh ideas and people and in our view this ought not to be done half-heartedly," he added.

The board of the Tallinn chapter also formed a program task force and set out internal election principles. It was decided to hold a general assembly of the regional organization at the end of August to confirm the program and conduct an internal vote to determine the ranking of candidates on the party's ticket.