The success last year of the Swedish Pirate Party in the European Parliament elections was considered a bit of a fluke by some. However when the votes were in, Christian Engström and Amelia Andersdotter were elected MEPs after the party collected over 7% of the vote.

While Ms Andersdotter isn’t seated yet (as one of the new MEP’s created when the Lisbon Treaty passed in November 2009), Mr Engström has been working up a frenzy in office, covering topics like an Internet Bill of Rights and privacy.

The Party may be lambasted in many places – including one flat-out lie in the UK House of Commons during a debate that led to the passage of the Digital Economy Act – but it seems their detractors are a vocal minority, rather than the majority, if itsyourparliament.eu is anything to go by.

They list Mr Engström as the most popular MEP (120 for, and 9 against or 93%) with a clear lead over his nearest rivals, British Liberal Democrat George Lyon (25 for and 5 against, or 83%), and Jill Evans of the Welsh party Plaid Cymru (22 for, 4 against or 84%).

Mr Engström is playing down this show of popularity. “It feels great,” he told Freakbits, “..but to be honest it doesn’t necessarily mean that I am in fact the most liked. Just that my supporters know their way around the internet better, and are familiar with political resources like itsyourparliament.eu”

“But that’s pretty great too,” he added with a smile.

Christian also holds another record – the Greenest voting record. Hit votes are 100% in compliance with Green Party policy, beating not only the Swedish MEPs from the Green Party, but even the European Parliament’s Green group leaders.

He notes on his blog that’s it’s not that the party has turned into the Green Party, but “It just means that I have done exactly what the Pirate Party promised before the election. I put all my energy on information policy, and follow the group I am with in all matters outside our election platform.”

This integrity and honesty is certain to be a key point in their campaign for September’s election.

Photo by tobias.bjorkgren

Article from: FreakBits

FreakBits had a chance to have an unofficial sit-down with some of the guys behind the whole deal, hoping we could dispel some of the rumors and maybe give readers a clearer picture of what they are actually trying to accomplish.

What this reporter found when he ventured, totally unprotected, into the official IRC chat room of the PPAU was not a bunch of ‘open slather’ downloaders who have no aim or direction. In contrast with the insinuations in the original article, it is a well spoken group of concerned Australians who are in the beginning stages of what may turn out to be an influential force in the future of politics down under.

The first goal of the fledgling political party was nearly met; obtaining 500 members in order to qualify for registration with the Australian Electorial Commission. The announcement was made last Monday and the party reports that already over 1400 inquiries have been made since then.

The platform of the group is not, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, to abolish copyright laws completely. The aim is to decriminalize file sharing meant for private use and non-profit. Not to get rid of the laws, but to reform them. Another thing that was misrepresented was the fact that preventing censorship and Internet filtering is also a huge part of their platform.

Similar groups have had success in other parts of the world. The Swedish party recently won a seat in the EU Parliament with over 200,000 votes.

Going on record, the Pirate Party stated that they would gladly have sat down with the Sydney Herald to explain better their views had the request been made. None such was ever received. Speaking from personal experience, they were more than glad to chat it up with FreakBits.

For more information or to join the cause (they do accept non-Australian members) check out their website. Stay tuned for more from Freakbits as their story unfolds.

Article from: FreakBits

It seems that Sweden’s Left Party may have had an eye on some of the more popular elements of the Pirate Party’s politics.

One of the sections in the Left’s new manifesto is entitled “The right to be private” and mirrors almost identically the policies of Sweden’s Pirates.

The Left Party is also advocating the nullification of both the FRA and IPRED legislations, and wishes to limit the right of the state to spy on its citizens.

“The insidious development of a Control society is a reality. There is a need for change. We need freedom of movement of personal integrity,” they write.

Pirate Party leader Rick Falkvinge acknowledges that his party’s politics have been copied, but true to his own ideals, is supportive.

“I think it’s great to spread our ideas and with more parties tackling these issues, this is what we wanted from the beginning,” he said.

But is Falkvinge concerned that the Lefts are going to steal his voters?

“For us it is not an end in itself to sit in government. The more people talking about issues and spreading ideas is what we want. From the beginning politicians did not want to take on these issues, now that several parties have this is very good,” he added.

Article from: FreakBits

Dick Doyle of IRMA (the local RIAA) and Christian Engstrom who represents The Pirate Party in the European Parliament, discuss the issue on Todayfm.

While Eircom gave in to the demands of the music lobby, two other ISPs, UPC and BT Ireland refused to do so. They will be taken to court by IRMA, Doyle says during the chat at Todayfm. Engstrom, who represents the European Pirates after an election win in Sweden sees Eircom’s actions as censorship.

[wpaudio url="http://audio.todayfm.com/pirate_eircom.mp3"]

Article from: FreakBits

Last September The Pirate Party of Finland (Piraattipuolue) began collecting the 5000 supporter signatures required by Finnish law. That milestone was achieved and the party handed them to the Ministry of Justice in early June 2009.

Piraattipuolue is now able to participate in the Finnish parliamentary, municipal and European parliamentary elections. Their primary goal: get their representatives in the Finnish parliament at the 2011 election.

“Piraattipuolue has a steady support and our membership figures are climbing steadily. Pirates are an important part of our society”, says chairman Pasi Palmulehto.

The Pirate Party of Finland becomes the 8th officially registered Pirate Party and currently has around 2,370 members.

Pirattipuolue

Article from: FreakBits

A new campaign video is receiving rave reviews on Youtube. Looking more like a Hollywood trailer than anything else, with a touch of similarity to Jerry Bruckheimer’s production logo in style. The video reminds people that their vote is their weapon, before imploring people to vote for the Pirate Party.

Got to say, it’s a nice looking video if nothing else, and certainly conveys a powerful message. How effective it will be, that is yet to be seen.

Article from: FreakBits