Pirate Party To Enter European Parliament

The Swedish Pirate Party harvested 7.1 percent of the Swedish vote in preliminary results from the European Parliament elections on Sunday, 7 June, according to official sources. The Party aims to fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system and ensure citizens’ right to privacy. According to the Parliament’s provisional seat repartition, the Pirate Party’s score in the elections should yield them one seat in the Parliament. Some sources say the party might end up with a second seat, but this is not confirmed.

Pirate Party International, the international association of Pirate Parties aiming at spreading the aims of the Pirate movement, is also celebrating election success in Germany, with 0.9 percent of the vote, allowing for increased funding of the party. The Swedish Pirate Party also is advocating for a new alternative system to pharmaceutical patents, according to their website.
Parliamentary elections are held every five years.