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Parempoolsed
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Erakond Parempoolsed[3] (lit. 'the Right' or 'the Right-wingers')[4] is a self-declared economically liberal[5] political party in Estonia. The party has no representation in the parliament.
Key Information
History
[edit]The party was formed in August 2022, mostly by a group of former members of the Isamaa party.[1][6]
The party gained its first and only member in the Riigikogu, Siim Valmar Kiisler, when he joined in September 2022.
In the 2023 elections Kiisler was not re-elected and the party lost its seat in the parliament.
Ideology
[edit]Parempoolsed is a centre-right party. Its leaders have repeatedly declared support for Estonia's continued membership of the European Union and its common market. It also claims to oppose "bureaucracy", "populism", and what it views as a recent "left turn" in Estonian politics, and supports Ukraine. It has called for more privatisation and competition in health care and some other state companies, as well as fiscal responsibility, lowering taxation in general, continuation of a simple tax system and an e-government. It supports immigration, stating that "conservative policy does not consist in denying immigration", while saying this should be managed "based on the interests of Estonia's economy and security". It also intends to limit "the state's collection of data concerning people's private lives", defends the decentralization of power in the counties, free trade with other nations, flexibilization of the work laws, more responsibility to people, families and private initiative and deregulation and debureaucratization of the Estonian economy.[5][7] It self-identifies as a classic liberal and pro-individual party and advocates the power of the individual in building a prosperous and rich Estonia, claiming that the state must interfere as little as possible in people's lives.
Election results
[edit]Parliamentary elections
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lavly Perling | 14,037 | 2.3 (#8) | 0 / 101
|
New | Extra-parliamentary |
European Parliament elections
[edit]| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lavly Perling | 25,189 | 6.84 (#6) | 0 / 7
|
New | − |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Turovski, Marcus. "Parempoolsed now have more members than Eesti 200". Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Parempoolsed, the new right-wing Party was formed yesterday". Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Erakond Parempoolsed | e-Äriregister". ariregister.rik.ee. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ ERR News. Support for new party Parempoolsed just 0.8 percent in first poll. Retrieved 16 September 2022
- ^ a b "Põhimõtted - Parempoolsed" (in Estonian). 2022.
- ^ Turovski, Marcus. "Parempoolsed register as party, Perling elected chair". Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Manifest - Parempoolsed" (in Estonian). 2022.
Parempoolsed
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History
Founding and origins
The Parempoolsed movement originated as an intra-party association within the Isamaa political party, formed on July 23, 2020, by 111 Isamaa members seeking to advocate for moderate right-wing policies amid perceived shifts in the party's direction.[5][6] The association issued a manifesto titled "Parempoolne valik Eestile" (Right-Wing Choice for Estonia), emphasizing commitment to Western values, economic liberalism, and opposition to political extremism.[6] Founding members included local council representatives, entrepreneurs, and public officials, reflecting a base drawn from conservative and pro-market elements dissatisfied with the dominance of centrist and populist alternatives in Estonian politics.[7] The group's formation responded to broader concerns over the erosion of classical right-wing influence in Estonia, where parties like the Reform Party had moderated their platforms and Isamaa faced internal debates on ideology.[8] By mid-2022, the association had grown to over 500 members and registered independently as a non-profit entity on March 15, 2022, laying groundwork for its evolution into a standalone political organization.[9] This step marked the transition from an Isamaa faction to a distinct entity focused on fiscal conservatism, national sovereignty, and EU-aligned foreign policy without nationalist overtones.[10]Split from Isamaa and formal establishment
The Parempoolsed ("Right-wingers") faction emerged within the Isamaa party amid growing internal disagreements, particularly over Isamaa's coalition government participation with the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), which some members viewed as entailing excessive compromise with nationalist elements. On March 8, 2022, Isamaa's council evicted four leaders of the Parempoolsed group—Lavly Perling, Tõnis Kons, Jaak Aaviksoo, and Keit Pent—citing violations of party statutes and unauthorized external activities.[11] Following the eviction, the faction announced its decision to operate independently on March 24, 2022, framing the split as a response to Isamaa's internal "trauma" from prior governmental coalitions and a push to advance a distinct economically liberal conservative platform free from perceived radical influences.[12][13] The move involved approximately 1,000 supporters initially, primarily former Isamaa members disillusioned with the party's direction. Parempoolsed held its founding congress on August 18, 2022, formally establishing the party with Lavly Perling unanimously elected as chair.[14][15] The party was officially registered with the Tartu County Court on October 6, 2022, enabling full legal operation as Erakond Parempoolsed.[15] This establishment positioned Parempoolsed as a self-described bulwark against political extremism, emphasizing Western values, economic liberalism, and national security priorities distinct from Isamaa's broader conservative-nationalist alignment.Key developments post-2022
In December 2023, Parempoolsed announced plans to field a full slate of candidates in Estonia's European Parliament elections scheduled for the following year, signaling intent to expand its national profile beyond domestic parliamentary contests.[16] The party participated in the June 9, 2024, elections but secured no seats among Estonia's seven allocated to the European Parliament, consistent with its ongoing absence from national legislative representation.[17] By early 2025, Parempoolsed demonstrated financial momentum, raising €93,161 in the first quarter alone, with notable contributions including €30,000 from timber industry figure Raul Kirjanen, reflecting growing donor interest in the party's platform.[18] Public support also surged, as a Norstat survey in August 2025 recorded the party's highest-ever rating of 6.8 percent, indicating rising voter appeal amid Estonia's polarized political landscape.[19] Ahead of the October 19, 2025, municipal elections, pre-election analyses projected Parempoolsed to gain entry to the Tallinn City Council, potentially marking its first local government breakthrough and challenging established parties in the capital.[20] This development underscored the party's strategic focus on urban conservative voters, though final seat allocations depended on vote thresholds and coalition dynamics in individual municipalities.[21]Ideology and policy positions
Economic liberalism and fiscal policies
Parempoolsed positions itself as an economically liberal party, emphasizing free-market principles, entrepreneurship, and reduced government intervention to foster growth and competitiveness. The party advocates for minimizing bureaucratic hurdles and overregulation, particularly from EU institutions, arguing that such measures stifle innovation and harm businesses. For instance, it supports simplifying single-market rules to allow easier localization for companies expanding across borders, thereby accelerating economic expansion.[22] In fiscal policy, Parempoolsed prioritizes sound public finances, calling for budget balancing before implementing structural tax reforms. It opposes unpredictable or expansionary fiscal measures, attributing Estonia's recent inflation partly to inconsistent government economic strategies. The party criticizes proposals for new taxes, such as corporate income tax, viewing them as detrimental signals to investors and businesses, and has urged postponing such "tax humps" until fiscal stability is achieved.[23][24] Key proposals include targeted tax reductions to stimulate work and consumption, such as lowering the personal income tax rate to 18 percent and value-added tax (VAT) to 20 percent. Parempoolsed also favors a smaller state apparatus with lower overall taxation, rejecting left-leaning expansions of government spending and advocating national sovereignty over tax policy to enable competition among EU states. It opposes EU-wide tax harmonization, insisting that fiscal decisions remain at the member-state level to avoid eroding competitiveness.[25][26][22] On regulation, the party seeks deregulation by curbing unnecessary EU norms and adhering to proportionality in rulemaking, aiming to cut administrative costs and reduce the EU Commission's scope of interference. This approach aligns with its broader goal of prioritizing rapid economic growth through innovation funding, attracting headquarters to Estonia, and enhancing global business competitiveness, while maintaining fiscal discipline to avoid debt accumulation.[22][27]Social conservatism and cultural issues
Parempoolsed prioritizes individual liberty in social and family matters, advocating against state-imposed guidelines in private life, home, and family decisions, with the principle that "everyone is free to make their own decisions in these matters."[2] This stance reflects a libertarian-leaning approach to personal autonomy rather than prescriptive moral regulations. The party opposes excessive government involvement in everyday social spheres, viewing it as incompatible with a free society. On cultural preservation, Parempoolsed promotes the Estonian language, traditions, and national identity as foundational to societal cohesion, emphasizing that "Estonianness is as great as we believe it to be ourselves."[2] Education policy focuses on delivering high-quality, Estonian-medium instruction to equip children with skills for a competitive world, without state-mandated ideological content beyond core academic goals.[2] Party representatives have participated in public disputes over cultural narratives, including social media confrontations critiquing progressive think tanks like the Liberal Citizen Foundation (SALK) on issues perceived as eroding traditional Western values.[28] Immigration positions stress controlled policies to attract skilled talent that integrates into Estonian communities, prioritizing economic utility and cultural adaptation over open borders.[2] Prior to formal establishment as a party, the Parempoolsed faction within Isamaa declined support for a 2020 referendum to constitutionally define marriage as between a man and a woman, arguing it would unnecessarily divide society rather than foster unity.[29] No explicit positions on abortion or LGBT rights appear in core documents, aligning with the broader emphasis on minimal state intervention in contentious moral domains.Foreign policy and national security
Parempoolsed prioritizes Estonia's integration into Western alliances, viewing NATO as the cornerstone of European security and rejecting the establishment of parallel defense structures, such as an independent EU army, that could dilute alliance effectiveness.[30][22] The party supports enforcing NATO's 2% GDP defense spending commitment among members and advocates for a "military Schengen" to facilitate rapid troop mobility across allied territories.[22] It endorses the swift accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, completed in 2023 and 2024 respectively, as enhancing regional deterrence.[30] The party frames Russia as an enduring imperialist aggressor, incapable of self-democratization without external pressure, and calls for a comprehensive Western strategy to isolate and neutralize its influence until it abandons expansionist behavior.[22] In response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Parempoolsed demands Ukraine's complete military victory as a prerequisite for European stability, opposing any premature peace agreements and supporting post-war reconstruction alongside accountability through international tribunals and reparations from Russia.[30] It urges a European-wide approach to counter Russian instability in adjacent regions, including the Caucasus, Central Asia, and North Africa.[22] On national security, Parempoolsed proposes allocating at least 3% of GDP to military defense—plus additional funds for hosting allied forces—and 2% to internal security to bolster resilience against hybrid threats.[30] The party favors expanding conscription to include women and alternative civilian service options, aiming to build a non-military defense reserve of 10,000 citizens, while mandating defense education and media literacy in schools to foster societal preparedness, particularly in scenarios isolating Estonia as an "island" state.[30] In broader foreign policy, Parempoolsed supports a values-driven EU approach promoting democracy and rule of law globally, including enlargement to candidates like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia under rigorous conditions, but cautions against "euro-enthusiasm" that erodes national sovereignty or imposes excessive regulation.[22] It seeks deeper cooperation with non-EU partners such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, while opposing economic agreements with authoritarian states like China that compromise EU principles, and advocates strengthened ties with Taiwan to advance freedom and democracy.[22]Organization and leadership
Leadership structure and key figures
The leadership of Erakond Parempoolsed is structured around a general assembly (üldkogu), which serves as the highest decision-making body and convenes at least annually to elect the chairperson (esimees) and 14 board members (juhatuse liikmed) for two-year terms.[31] The board (juhatus), comprising 15 members including the chairperson, manages daily operations, represents the party, oversees the budget, and handles member admissions and expulsions; it may also elect up to three vice-chairpersons (aseesimehed) from its ranks.[31] An additional council (volikogu), composed of regional representatives, local chairpersons, and board members, approves election candidate lists and coalition agreements but holds less executive authority.[31] Lavly Perling, a legal expert and former Isamaa member who led the splinter group, has served as chairperson since the party's formal establishment in August 2022 and was re-elected on September 14, 2024, with 265 votes at the general assembly.[32][33] The board elected concurrently includes prominent figures with prior political experience, such as Siim Kiisler (201 votes), a former environment minister under Isamaa; Kristjan Vanaselja (201 votes), a key organizer in the party's formation; and Tõnis Kons (152 votes), another ex-Isamaa parliamentarian.[33] Other board members elected with varying vote tallies include Andres Kaarmann (152 votes), Indrek Luberg (151 votes), Sandra Sander (150 votes), Andrus Karelson (138 votes), Kati Kuusk (136 votes), Kadri Kullmann (135 votes), Merle Raun (132 votes), Martti Aavik (113 votes), Tarmo Linnamägi (102 votes), Jaan Mihkel Uustalu (77 votes), and Janne Andersoo (73 votes).[33] This structure emphasizes centralized executive control by the board while requiring broad member input through assembly elections, with candidacy for chairperson needing endorsements from at least 50 members.[31] Key figures like Perling and Kiisler represent the party's origins in the 2022 split from Isamaa, bringing expertise in law, economics, and prior governmental roles to advocate for economic liberalism and conservatism.[32][33]Membership and internal organization
Parempoolsed membership is open to individuals aged 18 or older who are legally capable, hold Estonian or EU citizenship, reside in Estonia, align with the party's values, and face no legal prohibitions on joining political parties. Supporting membership is available to those aged 16 to 18 under similar criteria. Members enjoy equal rights, including participation in party activities, access to information, proposal of initiatives, voting in internal elections, candidacy for offices (with the chairmanship requiring endorsements from at least 50 members), formation of internal groups, and resignation at will.[31] The party originated as a political association formed by 111 members who defected from Isamaa in July 2020.[34] By January 2024, membership had grown to 632, reflecting steady expansion amid the party's formal registration as a political entity in October 2022. [15] As of March 2025, Parempoolsed's membership surpassed that of Eesti 200, indicating further recruitment gains among non-parliamentary parties.[35] Internally, the party's highest decision-making body is the üldkogu (general congress), which convenes annually, elects the party chairman, 14 board members, and a five-member audit committee for two-year terms, and operates by simple majority without a quorum requirement, permitting electronic voting.[31] The volikogu (council), comprising regional representatives (allocated 1–5 per region based on membership proportions), regional chairpersons, and board members, handles program development, coalition decisions, and chairman elections every two years via simple majority.[31] Day-to-day management falls to the juhatuse (board), consisting of 15 members including the chairman, which approves budgets, memberships, and operational plans, requiring at least one-third quorum for decisions.[31] The revisjonitoimkond (audit committee) of five members independently oversees financial compliance and reports to the üldkogu.[31] All internal bodies support electronic participation to facilitate broader member involvement.[31]Electoral history
Riigikogu elections
Parempoolsed participated in the 2023 Riigikogu elections held on March 5, marking the party's debut in national parliamentary contests following its registration in October 2022.[15] The party launched its campaign on January 21, 2023, emphasizing economic liberalism, fiscal restraint, and conservative values.[36] Despite fielding candidates, Parempoolsed secured 14,037 votes nationwide, accounting for 2.3 percent of the total valid votes cast.[37] This result fell below Estonia's five percent electoral threshold for proportional representation, resulting in no seats in the 101-member Riigikogu.[38]| Year | Votes | % | Seats | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14,037 | 2.3 | 0 / 101 | – |