Seeder about turn on 'Right-wingers': Group was created behind my back
Isamaa party leader Helir-Valdor Seeder has changed his mind on a right-wing group created within the party. Two weeks ago, he said he was indirectly behind the birth of the "Right-wingers" (Parempoolsed) but now says the association was instead created behind his back.
Seeder told ERR on July 23 that he is pleased new associations within the Isamaa party were being created.
The party leader said: "Indirectly, this is the result of my own activities, and I am behind the birth of the association. This summer, I have traveled through almost all areas of our party and called on people to be more active.
"As far as I know, several associations within the party are currently being formed. One is on the right, and a second family policy association will be formed in the coming months."
On Thursday however, Seeder told daily Postimees (link in Estonian) the right-wingers group was created behind his back.
Seeder said: "And not only behind my back; the majority of the party did not know about it. Only a select few members were informed. Last week, on Kuku Raadio, Right-wingers representative Siim Kiisler answered a question on why only two of Isamaa's political group of 12 in Riigikogu - he and Mihhail Lotman - have signed up, saying others were not invited. This creates a ton of questions, if most of the party leadership is left aside. I think we have reason to question the Right-wingers' actual goals."
111 members of the coalition Isamaa party founded a union called "Parempoolsed" (Right-wingers) with a manifesto titled "The right-wing choice for Estonia", where they promise to walk the putative line between standing up for "western" values and right-wing opinions alike, but against extremists, in Estonian politics.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste
