Tsahkna said on ERR’s “Aktuaalne Kaamera” newscast on Monday that he had asked IRL’s leadership to convene a party congress. He wanted to improve the party’s internal democracy, Tsahkna said.

“My task as chairman is to reach the aims that we have set for ourselves. The party needs to be ready to change,” he added.

Though the party couldn’t be happy with its low public support, the Free Party, the Social Democrats, and the Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) were in a similar situation, Tsahkna pointed out.

In his opinion, the party’s politics have been the right ones, but their message hadn’t been heard. “Perhaps we don’t care enough about our reputation. I have to admit, the party has a lot of work to do,” Tsahkna said.

“After all we have been saying the same thing as the president, that there clearly is a place for open conservatism. As chairman, I have the duty to make the necessary changes happen,” he added.

The party had previously planned to call together its members only after the upcoming local elections in autumn this year.