Mart Helme

Mart Helme
Minister of the Interior
In office
29 April 2019  9 November 2020
Prime MinisterJüri Ratas
Preceded byKatri Raik
Succeeded byAlar Laneman
Leader of the Conservative People's Party
In office
13 April 2013  4 July 2020
Preceded byMargo Miljand
Succeeded byMartin Helme
Estonian Ambassador to Russia
In office
1995–1999
PresidentLennart Meri
Preceded byJüri Kahn
Succeeded byTiit Matsulevitš
Member of the Riigikogu
Assumed office
10 November 2020
In office
30 March 2015  29 April 2019
Personal details
Born (1949-10-31) 31 October 1949
Pärnu, Estonia
Political partyConservative People's Party (2012–present)
Other political
affiliations
Res Publica Party (2002)
People's Union (2003–2005)
Spouse(s)Sirje Helme (divorced}
Helle-Moonika Helme
RelationsRein Helme (brother)
Peeter Helme (nephew)
Children6, including Martin Helme and Maarja Vaino
Alma materUniversity of Tartu

Mart Helme ([ˈmɑrt ˈhelme], born 31 October 1949) is an Estonian politician, diplomat and historian who served as the Minister of the Interior from 2019 to 2020. He was the longtime chairman of the national conservative Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) from 13 April 2013 to 4 July 2020 when he was succeeded by his son Martin Helme.

Helme also served as Estonia's ambassador to Russia from 1995 to 1999. Some media outlets have described him as a right-wing populist.