Mart Helme nominated as Estonia's 2026 presidential candidate by EKRE

A polarizing figure returns to the race. Can Mart Helme's EU and NATO skepticism reshape Estonia's political future in 2026?

, and Administrator

2026 May 5 . 6:06 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of ships on the water with a cloudy sky in the background. At the bottom of... — The image shows a group of ships on the water with a cloudy sky in the background. At the bottom of the image, there is text and a logo that reads "15 NATO and two partner nations demonstrating maritime, anti-subsurface warfare, amphibious, and air defense operations to ensure regional security in the Baltic".

Mart Helme nominated as Estonia's 2026 presidential candidate by EKRE

Mart Helme has been put forward as Estonia’s presidential candidate for the 2026 election. The nomination comes from the opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), where he serves as deputy chairman. His candidacy will now go before the party’s congress for approval on June 6. Helme is currently the only officially declared candidate for the upcoming vote, set for September 2026. This marks his second bid for the presidency, having previously run in 2016 when he secured just 16 votes.

His political stance includes scepticism about NATO’s future role and structure. He has also criticised the European Union, arguing it struggles to engage effectively with major global powers. The EKRE congress will decide on Helme’s candidacy in early June. If approved, he will represent the party in the 2026 presidential race. The outcome will determine whether he advances as the sole contender or faces additional rivals.