Martin Helme: The Helme Name Is a Brand for EKRE

EKRE will choose a new party chair at a council meeting on Saturday, with current leader Martin Helme as the only candidate. Helme explained why several people with the same surname appear in high positions on EKRE's election lists.

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) will hold a council meeting on Saturday to elect a new party chair. The sole candidate to continue in the leadership position is current chair Martin Helme.

Helme also addressed the question of why EKRE's election lists feature several people with the Helme surname in prominent positions. According to him, there is nothing unusual about this, as voters in Estonia often vote based on name rather than the individual — and Helme has, in his view, become a brand in its own right.

"In Estonia, people often vote based on name, and Helme is a brand," said Martin Helme, pointing out that the recognition of the surname helps with vote gathering during elections.

The EKRE council meeting where the chair election will take place is scheduled for Saturday. Since Martin Helme is the only candidate, his continuation as party leader is considered essentially assured.