Leader Sven Sildnik Membership (2014) 2,153 | Founded 1999 Political position Far-right | |
Headquarters Tallinn, Estonia puiestee Ideology Estonian nationalism
Euroscepticism | ||
The Estonian Independence Party (Estonian: Eesti Iseseisvuspartei, EIP) is a far-right political party in Estonia. The party, founded in 1999, is a successor to the Estonian Future Party. One of the principal aims of the party is the withdrawal of Estonia from the European Union. The party is currently without parliamentary representation.
Contents
Philosophy
The EIP's political philosophy promotes a doctrine of “Estonia as a neo-autarkic geopolitical space” and an associated geopolitical imperative of neutrality between the East and the West.
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. The party regards Setomaa as a part of Estonia and not Russia.
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 and said that the country should have a bigger say in defining Estonia's future.
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. In the 2007 elections, the party's vote dropped to 1,274 votes, which was 0.2% of the total. In the 2011 elections, the party's vote increased to 2,571 votes, which was 0.4% of the total.
In the 2014 European Parliamentary election, the Estonian Independence Party received 4,158 votes, which was 1.3% of the vote.
In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the party's vote diminished to 1,047 votes, which was 0.2% of the total.
Controversies
Opponents have claimed that the party is a far-right organisation. This has been rejected by the party leader, Sven Sildnik, and a leading board member, Tauno Rahnu. One of the former leading members, Risto Teinonen, an ethnic Finn associated with Johan Bäckman, has also been accused of having National Socialist views.