EKRE re-elects Evelin Poolamets as council chair

Evelin Poolamets has been re-elected chair of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party’s council, ERR reported. Külli Lumi was elected deputy chair.

Poolamets was the only incumbent among three candidates for chair. The other candidates were Küllo Kingo and Mart Kallas.

Poolamets is a member of the Riigikogu, a member of EKRE’s board, a member of the ERR Council and chair of the Vinni Municipal Council. Kingo is an entrepreneur and chair of EKRE’s Tartu and Jõgeva County district. Kallas is a member of EKRE’s board and chair of its West Tallinn district.

Lumi was elected deputy chair after running against veteran sailor Riho Nüüd of the East Tallinn district and local politician Enn Sarv from Mulgimaa. Lumi is a teacher from Pärnu County.

EKRE chairman Martin Helme said the current government no longer had a mandate or, in essence, legitimacy to decide anything.

“Among other things, the current Riigikogu should not elect the president. Nor should it appoint, for example, the next chancellor of justice,” Helme said.

He said presidential elections should be held by direct vote. If that did not happen, he said, the election should be conducted by an electoral college because at least half of its members represent local governments, whose elections were held a year ago.

“That is a much more recent mandate than the Riigikogu has. We want the current Riigikogu not to elect the president, but for that decision to be given to the people,” Helme said.