In a press release issued by an adviser to Tartu City Council's EKRE group, Silver Kuusik is described as "an energetic, charismatic and capable leader with open communication, a firmly national conservative worldview and a vision for the realization of EKRE's ambitions."

The announcement likewise expressed hope that Kuusik's candidacy will "initiate fruitful and constructive debate within the party about EKRE's tactics."

"All the work our party's leadership and all of our active members have done so far has been commendable," Kuusik acknowledged in his own announcement. "EKRE has established itself on the political landscape. We haven't allowed our primary goals to be watered down. We have come to stay."

According to data available in Estonia's commercial register, Kuusik has been a registered member of EKRE since 2018; he has previously been a member of the Center Party, the Party of People's Unity (RÜE) as well as the Free Party.

'A new broom sweeps cleaner'

In an interview with ERR on Friday, Kuusik said that EKRE should behave better on Toompea Hill – referring to the site of the Estonian parliament and government – and cooperate with the country's other political parties.

Ex-member Peeter Ernits he would invite back to EKRE; Kalle Grünthal, however, he wouldn't.

Why should a member of EKRE vote for you if your opponent is EKRE's current, long-term chair Martin Helme?

I believe that members of a political party cultivating democracy have every right to choose. I think it's perfectly alright for people to be given a choice.

But what do they have to choose from? What would you be like as party leader?

I think young blood, and a new broom – that always sweeps cleaner. And I'm not running against Martin [Helme], but rather alongside Martin. Martin has done a very good job, and so did [preceding party chair] Mart Helme before him. I see no reason to start changing our principles; those we have firmly in place.

If anything needs changing, it's tactics. We definitely can't take the route of being in constant opposition; a party's ultimate goal needs to be to govern and to come to power. And I think that a minor change of course is necessary to do so.

How do you envision the path from opposition to governance, and do you see this being a possibility even before the elections taking place three years from now?

The political math doesn't add up at the parliamentary level here. But we do need to start respecting the MPs and local government council members more that have gained other people's support and who want to implement their platform. We need to do more to try to find areas for cooperation with other parties as well as show respect for the representatives of other groups.

Could you illustrate this example a little?

I'll use Tartu as an example. Comparing it with what's going on on Toompea [Hill], I think we have in no way lost our values in Tartu; we've stood up for these causes – but at the same time, I think the other political parties accept us. And I think this attitude fundamentally differs from what we see on Toompea.

Of course, people will distance themselves from politics if they feel like there's this intense fighting and knocking each other down going on. In Tartu, we've been doing our thing with dignity, and I believe parties have a different attitude toward us in Tartu than what's going on in Toompea.

I've also noticed that, for example, you're essentially cooperating in the opposition with Eesti 200.

Right, exactly. And although we have major differences in worldview with the Social Democrats and in several areas with the Reform Party as well, we communicate politely. The rhetoric and way of speaking are certainly different in the City of Tartu.

Do I understand correctly that the change that could come on Toompea would be rhetorical in particular? Meaning the way things are said and done. So it wouldn't be so much firing away as a negotiation?

Absolutely. Because absolutely no one has any doubt about our principles. People are, however, being alienated, because even though the causes for which this obstruction is being carried out are noble, this style needs to be changed.

You wouldn't bring a noise machine into the [Session Hall] of the Riigikogu?

I personally wouldn't. We haven't done that in Tartu either. We have, however, gotten up and left the room in protest a couple of times as the budget was being passed. But I personally wouldn't consider something like that right.

This obstruction has been going in kind of a spiral. One side takes a step, then the other, and then the first again. And by now we've found ourselves in a situation where instead of the Riigikogu's rules of procedure and internal rules, we only have interpretation. Would you have done something different somehow in this year-long spiral?

First of all, it's clear that our obstructionist MPs have faith and the desire to do something. Parliamentary activity, however, has turned into knocking [others] down. I think that this winner-take-all mentality needs to be negotiated, in order to achieve greater peace and increase the faith of the Estonian people.

I believe the opposition should also have its own share in the budget. For example, when Andrus Ansip governed Tartu, the opposition was also allotted its own fixed budget. If no concessions are made regarding absolutely anything, this understandably breeds resentment. But in Tartu we've still gotten a few of our own things into the budget, which we can present to our voters at the municipal level and show that our fight was behind this.

It's difficult to come out of the corner in a dignified manner. What kind of step could EKRE take to get out of the corner in a way that the party's elected representatives don't have to feel like they have to give up somehow?

I think that a change in rhetoric and style alone could already bring a lot of our people back. Because let's face it, there was a time when our membership and our ratings were both higher. It's plain to see that this style doesn't suit some of our voters. You don't have to lose your values, but you have to be polite and restrained. If we manage that, perspectives on and approaches toward us will surely improve.

Another thing is nevertheless considering all parties as potential partners. Whether cooperation is possible with everyone is another matter, but I don't think it's right to rule [anyone] out, because a share of the people back these parties too. I don't think it's a good idea to say we're ruling out cooperation with this or that party, like the Reform Party does with EKRE. Our job as politicians is to start bringing the people together.

People have left EKRE over softer criticism too. How do you plan on avoiding this while running, so that you don't end up faring the same way as Peeter Ernits, Urmas Espenberg or Loone Ots?

There's a whole string of internal affairs involved there that we don't discuss in public. Party members are aware of these things, and they can decide accordingly. Things possibly going that way is one of several possibilities. But I think that a lot of people that have left, those that are true national conservatives, need to be brought back at one point instead. For the preservation of our country, our people and our culture. Because we need to put the brakes on liberal politics on harder.

Meaning you would invite many people who have quit EKRE back?

I think many are deserving of being invited back.

Would you bring back Indrek Särg?

I think he burned too many bridges. Although I believe that he was a noble man, but after the court cases and the way he's talked about the party, it would breed a lot of misunderstanding and resentment. There's more than one way to quit. If so many people are hurt on the way out, then I don't think those left behind would accept this. This would surely be a very strong point of decision and discussion.

But Peeter Ernits?

At least Peeter hasn't gone to court. He quit voluntarily, and his case should be considered a bit more gently. Peeter has brought us a ton of votes. He's been on the front lines repeatedly. I believe there would be a different approach in his case.

Was Ernits' criticism from when he was leaving at least partially on the money?

I think a lot of people admit that, and recognize the feeling that Peeter expressed.

But would Kalle Grünthal have a place in EKRE with you at the helm?

I don't think Kalle Grünthal represented what I'd like to see in the party.

EKRE's party chair elections will be held at the party congress scheduled in Jõhvi for Sunday, June 16. Likewise confirmed to be running for reelection next month is incumbent EKRE chair Martin Helme.

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