Martin Helme, leader of the Estonian Conservative People's organization (EKRE), made a speech full of sharp and uncompromising rhetoric during the CPAC Budapest conference. In his speech he not only attacked liberal elites and European institutions, but besides outlined a imagination of a political revolution inspired by "trumpism".
W Budapest Helme spoke with passion and clear sense of mission:
"Donald Trump opened up an chance to change the course of our east civilization," Helme said, recognizing the erstwhile U.S. president as a key initiator of global change.
Estonian politics have repeatedly stressed that the current trajectory of Europe and the Western planet leads to a civilizational collapse. He spoke of a threat to freedom, identity and conventional values. He besides expressed deep dissatisfaction with the condition of European institutions, which he believes are full corrupt and controlled by globalist elites.
"Media, academy, most spiritual institutions, legislation, cultural institutions, and even military and police are ideologically completely corrupt," said Estonian.
The speech repeatedly echoed the opposition to the left, media and academic institutions that Helme referred to as "indoctrination" and "against patriots". He besides expressed the belief that even winning elections would not be adequate if the rules of the game remained unchanged:
“The rules are so fixed that we can never win. erstwhile we have the chance, we request to improvement or destruct all the institutions," he argued.
Helme presented Europe as a continent betrayed by his own elite and called for the mobilisation of national-conservative forces:
"We must regain the strength that belongs to the peoples of Europe," he called.
In his speech there were besides controversial and powerfully alarmistic images:
"Look at the British police, dancing on the streets with red flags and then defeating the British on behalf of Muslims who are amazed to have been invited to their assassination," he said, illustrating his allegations of liberal order.
At the end of the speech, Helme expressed hope for a complete transformation of the continent:
"All these institutions destruct our countries, our way of life, the future of our children. Either we change them completely or, if that's not possible, we gotta destruct them before they destruct us. This is how we will save Europe," Helme concluded.
The Estonian Conservative People's organization (EKRE), which Martin Helme has chaired since 2020, is simply a group that has been polarizing the political scene of Estonia for years. It was based on a national-conservative movement founded by his father, Marta Helme. Since its inception, EKRE has based its message on defending national sovereignty, strong opposition to immigration, Euroscepticism and opposition to alleged sex ideology.
In 2015, Martin Helme first won a mandate in Riigikog, an Estonian parliament. He has since been re-elected in 2019 and 2023, confirming increasing support for EKRE. From 2019 to 2021, Helme served as Minister of Finance in the government of Jüri Ratas, but after resigning the cabinet, the organization found itself in opposition again.
Helme has been controversial many times. His 2013 interview was peculiarly loud, in which he expressed his belief that Estonia should stay a "white country". Although criticized by liberal environments and national minorities, Helme not only did not retreat from these words, but made akin slogans the foundation of the EKRE political strategy.
Helme's speech on CPAC Budapest immediately attracted the attention of European policy observers. His rhetoric – full of references to "destruction of institutions", "reforming principles" and "resolution of opponents" – met mixed opinions. Representatives of the Estonian centre and leftist parties reacted with outrage. Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, activist of the Estonian improvement Party, described the speech as "appearably authoritarian and dangerous to democracy". She stressed that calling for the demolition of institutions was "a language of radicalism that should not take place in European politics".
Estonian liberal media focused on comparisons of Helme rhetoric to speeches by Donald Trump or Viktor Orbán. The paper publisher Eesti Päevaleht wrote that "Martin Helme does not hide that his goal is not to win under the system, but to change the strategy itself to Putinowo-Trumpowski's pattern".
On the another hand, EKRE sympathizers praised Helme for “the courage to tell the truth” and “consequence in defence of national values”. The right-wing online forums dominated comments like: “Somebody yet said it out loud” or “time to destruct corrupt Brussels”.
Hungarian pro-government media, linked to Fidesz Viktor Orbán, praised Helme's speech, highlighting his "solidarity with Central Europe" and "the fight against left-wing organization imperialism".
