New Estonian government ministers fuel concerns over sexism, white supremacy

[Eugene]

Source: CBS/AP

New Estonian government ministers fuel concerns over sexism, white supremacy

MAY 3, 2019 / 9:39 AM / CBS/AP

Helsinki -- The new interior minister of Estonia on Thursday called the country's first female president an "emotionally heated woman" for walking out during the swearing-in of a Cabinet minister accused of domestic violence.

Mart Helme made the sexist remark as other European politicians expressed alarm at the fact that both he and his son, also a newly-appointed Estonian government minister from the same far-right party, have recently and publicly flashed the "OK" hand gesture. While their use of the gesture may have been intended as innocent enthusiasm, the hand signal has been co-opted by supporters of white supremacy.

Helme made the "heated woman" remark a news conference where he also accused Estonian news outlets of applying a double standard in covering abuse allegations against the now-former minister from his own far-right Estonian Conservative People's Party, or ERKE.

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Photographs of the two flashing the OK hand sign at Monday's swearing-in ceremony have received attention from other politicians. The use of the familiar gesture by some extreme-right activists and white supremacists has given it an alternative meaning.

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Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/estonia-minister-mart-helme-sexist-remark-white-supremacy-hand-signal-europe/


Estonian Finance Minister Martin Helme attends the swearing-in of the incoming coalition government in Tallinn, Estonia, April 29, 2019. (Reuters)

[DURHAM D]

1. Disgusting -

Martin Helme, who told Politico that U.S. President Donald Trump was "absolutely" an inspiration to him, has been quoted previously as calling for a "white Estonia."

"Our immigration policy should have one simple rule: if you're black, go back. As simple as that," he said in 2013 according to Estonian news website ERR.