Unexpected statement from the Estonian right EKRE: questioned the elections to the Lithuanian Seimas

The party chairman, Finance Minister Martin Helme, and his father, former Interior Minister Mart Helme, spoke about the alleged electoral rigging in Lithuania and Romania in Tre Raadio.

According to an Estonian public broadcaster, politicians said the elections were rigged by a so-called “deep state,” a term used to describe an opaque network of influential actors operating independently of political power.

In the wake of the uproar, party chairman Martin Helme later explained that he spoke on the show about the influence of the media and liberals to pressure his candidates, but did not mention that the elections would be rigged.

“Lithuania and Romania were discussed briefly, but more in the context of how the media and internet giants manipulate society, and the liberal front pushes their actors. Voter fraud in these countries has never been mentioned,” he wrote on Facebook.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said he had asked for an explanation. He stressed that Lithuania and Romania are partners and that Estonia, as a state, has no doubts about their electoral processes.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis affirmed on his social media that the faith of the EKRE leaders in Lithuanian democracy would help them to believe in his sound opinion.

“Dear Martina, dear Martha. Lithuania, like Estonia, has restored its independence by the democratic will of our people. Confidence in democracy and common sense have helped us to strengthen and bring our countries closer together. Your faith in our democracy will help us to believe in your common sense, ”wrote G. Landsbergis.

The Estonian Conservative People’s Party in EKRE is often referred to in the media as the far-right party. His aim is to support young families, restrict immigration and emigration, oppose the expansion of LGBT rights and want to restrict the teaching of the Russian language in schools to more Estonian.