| Estonian Independence Party Eesti Iseseisvuspartei |
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|---|---|
| Leader | Vello Leito |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia puiestee |
| Ideology | Euroscepticism, Nationalism |
| International affiliation | None |
| European affiliation | None |
| European Parliament Group | None |
| Official colours | blue |
| Website | |
| www.iseseisvuspartei.ee | |
| Politics of Estonia Political parties Elections |
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The Estonian Independence Party (Estonian: Eesti Iseseisvuspartei, EIP) is a nationalist 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. It had 1,242 members on 15 July 2009.
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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.[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.[2] Party supports Setomaa to be a part of Estonia, not Russia.
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.[3]
EIP candidates gained 2705 votes (0.55% of the national vote) in the 2003 parliamentary election.
EIP took part in the 2003 in movement against Estonia joining the European Union.
In the 2007 elections, the party vote dropped by about two-thirds, to just 1,274 votes (0.2% of the total).
Opponents have claimed that the party is a far-right organisation. This has been rejected by the party leader, Vello Leito, and a leading board member, Tauno Rahnu. One of the former leading members, Risto Teinonen, an ethnic Finn, has also been accused of having National Socialist views.[4]
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