Estonian Independence Party
{{Short description|Former Estonian political party 1999–2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| country = Estonia
| name = Estonian Independence Party
| native_name = Eesti Iseseisvuspartei
| logo = Estonian_Independence_Party_logo.png
| colorcode = {{party color|Estonian Independence Party}}
| foundation = 30 November 1999
| dissolved = 30 October 2022
| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
|Estonian nationalism{{cite book|title=Political Parties in Estonia|last1=Pettai|first1=Vello|last2=Toomla|first2=Rein|publisher=The National Council for Eurasian and East European Research|date=13 June 2003}}
|Right-wing populism{{cite book|title=Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Security Sciences|date=2015|last=Liivik|first=Ero|isbn=978-9985-67-334-8}}
|Russophilia{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=Johannes Voltri {{!}} |date=2022-12-12 |title=Estonian Independence Party deleted from business register |url=https://news.err.ee/1608817075/estonian-independence-party-deleted-from-business-register |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=ERR |language=en}}}}
| position = Far-right{{cite journal|title=Extreme-right parties in contemporary Estonia|last=Kasekamp|first=Andres|journal=Patterns of Prejudice |date=4 June 2010|volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=401–414 |doi=10.1080/0031322032000144483|s2cid=143801588 }}{{cite book|title=Right-Wing Populism in Europe Politics and Discourse|last1=Wodak|first1=Ruth|last2=Khosravinik|first2=Majid|last3=Mral|first3=Brigitte|date=9 January 2015|doi=10.5040/9781472544940|isbn=978-1-78093-343-6|s2cid=55423405 |url=https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/92909 }}{{cite book|title=Transforming the Transformation?|last=Minkenberg|first=Michael|date=2015|publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415793360}}
| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Estonian Independence Party}}|border=darkgray}} Blue
| headquarters = Tatari tn 8-21, Tallinn
}}
The Estonian Independence Party ({{langx|et|Eesti Iseseisvuspartei}}, EIP) was a far-right nationalist political party in Estonia. The small party, founded in 1999, never had any significant success in the elections, and it was dissolved in 2022. One of the principal aims of the party was the withdrawal of Estonia from the European Union.
Philosophy
The EIP's political philosophy promoted a doctrine of “Estonia as a neo-autarkic geopolitical space” and an associated geopolitical imperative of neutrality between the East and the West.Piret Ehin, Estonian Euroskepticism: A Reflection of Domestic Politics?, East European Constitutional Review, Volume 11/12 Number 4/1
The party programme states that Estonia is extraordinarily rich in natural resources (much of these remain latent) and is situated in an important geopolitical space. Thus, the party is also against Estonia belonging to the European Union, which they accuse of having neocolonised Estonia. The party recommended rejecting International Monetary Fund suggestions.{{cite web|url=http://www.iseseisvuspartei.ee/test/index.php/doctrine-40english41.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803200614/http://www.iseseisvuspartei.ee/test/index.php/doctrine-40english41.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-08-03|title= EIP party doctrine (in English)}} The party regards Setomaa as a part of Estonia and not Russia.[https://archive.today/20140608053017/http://www.iseseisvuspartei.ee/test/index.php/artikleid-liikmetelt-avatud/items/jaan-hatto-demokraatiast.html Jaan Hatto demokraatiast] Iseseisvuspartei. Accessed 7 June 2014
History
The party's predecessor, Estonian Future Party (Tuleviku Eesti Erakond) was founded in 1994. In 1999, it was renamed to Estonian Independence Party.
In 2001, the party called for closer relations with Russia{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} and said that the country should have a bigger say in defining Estonia's future.Baltic News Service, Estonian Independence Congress Calls for Neutrality, Better Ties with Russia, Nov 5, 2001
EIP took part in the 2003 movement against Estonia joining the European Union.
EIP candidates gained 2,705 votes, amounting to 0.55% of the national vote, in the 2003 parliamentary election.[http://www.vvk.ee/varasemad/r03/pv_aken2.html Riigikogu Valimine 2. Märts 2003] vvk.ee. Accessed 7 June 2014 In the 2007 elections, the party's vote dropped to 1,274 votes, which was 0.2% of the total.[http://www.vvk.ee/varasemad/r07/pv_aken2.html Riigikogu Valimine 4. Märts 2007] vvk.ee. Accessed 7 June 2014 In the 2011 elections, the party's vote increased to 2,571 votes, which was 0.4% of the total.[http://www.vvk.ee/varasemad/rk2011/chart_0.html Valimistulemus - Eesti Vabariik kokku] vvk.ee. Accessed 7 June 2014
In the 2014 European Parliamentary election, the Estonian Independence Party received 4,158 votes, which was 1.3% of the vote, the party's highest ever.{{cite web|url=http://ep2014.vvk.ee/voting-results-en.html|title=Voting and election results|publisher=Estonian National Electoral Committee|date=26 May 2014|access-date=7 June 2014}} Former Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and future Estonia 200 MP Juku-Kalle Raid ran on the party's list in the election.
In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the party's vote diminished to 1,047 votes, which was 0.2% of the total.{{cite web |url=http://rk2015.vvk.ee/ |title=Riigikogu valimised 2015 |publisher=Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon |access-date= 8 March 2015 }} The party did not participate in the 2019 parliamentary elections.{{cite web |url=https://rk2019.valimised.ee/en/election-result/election-result.html |title=Voting and election result |publisher=Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon |access-date= 2 January 2020 }}
In 2022, it was reported that EIP was considering dissolving itself{{cite web | url=https://news.err.ee/1608697366/head-of-independence-party-has-not-considered-merging-with-ekre | title=Head of Independence Party has not considered merging with EKRE | date=27 August 2022 }} and, soon afterwards, in October 2022, most politicians belonging to then party's leadership joined the Estonian Conservative People's Party instead.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-08 |title=Erakonnad koguvad valimisteks musklit |url=https://www.postimees.ee/7622157/erakonnad-koguvad-valimisteks-musklit |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Poliitika |language=et}}{{Cite web |last=ERR |date=2022-10-04 |title=EKRE-sse astunud (:)kivisildnik: see on enesekaitse |url=https://www.err.ee/1608738199/ekre-sse-astunud-kivisildnik-see-on-enesekaitse |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=ERR |language=et}} The party was officially removed from the business register on 30 October.{{Cite news |last=ERR |date=2022-12-12 |title=Estonian Independence Party deleted from business register |url=https://news.err.ee/1608817075/estonian-independence-party-deleted-from-business-register |access-date=2023-03-05 |publisher=ERR }}
=Controversies=
Scholars categorised the party as a far-right organisation. This has been rejected by the party leaders, Sven Sildnik and Tauno Rahnu.[https://www.postimees.ee/1702753/tartus-runnati-mustanahalist-vahetusuliopilast Tartus rünnati mustanahalist vahetusüliõpilast] One of the former leading members, Risto Teinonen, an ethnic Finn associated with Johan Bäckman,{{Cite journal | journal = Eesti Ekspress | date = 18 March 2009 | url = http://www.ekspress.ee/2009/03/18/eesti-uudised/40449-yheskoos-eesti-vastu-antifashist-backman-ja-natsimeelne-teinonen | title = Üheskoos Eesti vastu: antifašist Bäckman ja natsimeelne Teinonen | author = Askur Alas | access-date = 31 March 2009 | language = et | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090321054521/http://www.ekspress.ee/2009/03/18/eesti-uudised/40449-yheskoos-eesti-vastu-antifashist-backman-ja-natsimeelne-teinonen | archive-date = 21 March 2009 | url-status = dead }} has also been accused of having neo-Nazi views.[http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/389590 Kapo kahtlustab soomlast Eesti riigi vastases tegevuses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207010052/http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/389590 |date=2011-02-07 }} Eesti Päevaleht, 2007-6-13.
Electoral results
=Parliamentary elections=
| class=wikitable style="text-align: right;" |
| rowspan=2 | Election
! colspan=3 | Votes ! colspan=2 | Seats ! rowspan=2 | Pos. |
|---|
| width=50px | #
! width=30px | % ! width=45px | ± pp ! width=90px | # ! width=30px | ± |
| 2003
| 2,705 | 0.5 | | {{Composition bar|0|101 |
| {{steady}} 0
| 9th
|-
! 2007
| 1,273
| 0.2
| {{decrease}} 0.3
| {{Composition bar|0|101|}}
| {{steady}} 0
| 9th
|-
! 2011
| 2,571
| 0.4
| {{increase}} 0.2
| {{Composition bar|0|101|}}
| {{steady}} 0
| 9th
|-
! 2015
| 1,047
| 0.2
| {{decrease}} 0.2
| {{Composition bar|0|101|}}
| {{steady}} 0
| 9th
|-
! 2019
! colspan="6" | Did not participate
|}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.iseseisvuspartei.ee Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050801090609/http://www.iseseisvuspartei.ee/ |date=2005-08-01 }}
{{Political parties in Estonia}}
Category:Political parties established in 1999
Category:Political parties disestablished in 2022
Category:Defunct political parties in Estonia
Category:Nationalist parties in Estonia
Category:Eurosceptic parties in Estonia
Category:1999 establishments in Estonia
Category:2022 disestablishments in Estonia
Category:Far-right parties in Europe