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Iceland's Pirate Party Could be On Course to Win Iceland's Election

10/29/2016

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The Pirate Party may sound like a novelty political outfit, but this former ragtag bunch of internet activists may be on the verge of winning Iceland's parliamentary elections Saturday.
The party was founded less than four years ago and promises a radical platform. Its members want to legalize drugs, crowd-source their policies using online referendums, and grant citizenship to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
The majority of polls over the past 18 months have predicted the party will win the most votes on Saturday — a radical pirate victory in the land of the Vikings. 

"I think it's because we have been approaching politics in a new way," said Pirate Party lawmaker Ásta Helgadóttir, explaining her movement's exponential rise. "We have been trying to do more evidence-based politics rather than just following ideas blindly."
Iceland's population of some 320,000 is half the size of Boston's and its landmass would comfortably fit inside the state of Colorado. It is a NATO member but has no armed forces, instead contributing to the alliance with cash and civilian personnel.
While politics on this small island of snow and volcanoes may seem insignificant when compared to the boisterous U.S. presidential race, the rise of Iceland's Pirate Party mirrors a global trend that has seen voters rejecting the political.



 The Pirate Party may sound like a novelty political outfit, but this former ragtag bunch of internet activists may be on the verge of winning Iceland's parliamentary elections Saturday.
The party was founded less than four years ago and promises a radical platform. Its members want to legalize drugs, crowd-source their policies using online referendums, and grant citizenship to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
The majority of polls over the past 18 months have predicted the party will win the most votes on Saturday — a radical pirate victory in the land of the Vikings.
The Pirate Party's three current lawmakers, Birgitta Jonsdottir, Asta Helgadottir and Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson. The Pirate Party
"I think it's because we have been approaching politics in a new way," said Pirate Party lawmaker Ásta Helgadóttir, explaining her movement's exponential rise. "We have been trying to do more evidence-based politics rather than just following ideas blindly."
Iceland's population of some 320,000 is half the size of Boston's and its landmass would comfortably fit inside the state of Colorado. It is a NATO member but has no armed forces, instead contributing to the alliance with cash and civilian personnel.
While politics on this small island of snow and volcanoes may seem insignificant when compared to the boisterous U.S. presidential race, the rise of Iceland's Pirate Party mirrors a global trend that has seen voters rejecting the political mainstream.
"We are trying to be the Robin Hood of democracy""The pirates are a radical anti-establishment party," according to Baldur Þórhallsson, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland. "But there are still lots of questions: How will the pirates be in government? Will they be able to function in government?"
Iceland's electoral system means it is almost impossible for one party to win an outright victory. Instead, after the election is finished, parties of similar stripes enter into negotiations to try to form a coalition to lead the country. 

                                                                                                                      READ MORE


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    Election 2016 Results 

    Invalid/blank votes 5,574
    Total 195,204
    Registered voters 246,515
    ​Turnout 79.19%

    Independence Party (54,990) 29.00% 21 seats
    Left-Green Movement (30,166) 15.91% 10 seats
    Pirate Party (27,449) 14.48% 10 seats
    Progressive Party (21,791) 11.49% 8 seats
    Reform (19,870) 10.48% 7 seats
    Bright Future (13,578) 7.16% 4 seats
    Social Democratic Alliance (10,893) 5.74% 3 seats
    People’s Party (6,707) 3.54 % No seats
    Dawn (3,275) 1.7% No seats
    People’s Front of Iceland (575) 0.30% No seats
    Icelandic National Front (303) 0.16% No seats
    Humanist Party (33) 0.02% No seats

    In brief | Pirate Party
    What: A pro-free speech, anti-authoritarian political party in Iceland
    Formed: 2012

    Founders: A group of anarchists, hackers and internet-freedom activists

    Leader: The party eschews formal leaders but Birgitta Jonsdottir is the most senior of three Pirate lawmakers in Iceland’s parliament

    Pirate policies
    • direct democracy
    • a new national constitution
    • public vetoes over new laws
    • greater scrutiny of the workings of government
    • strict safeguards for individuals’ online and offline privacy
    • public ownership of the country’s natural resources

    “I would like everybody in Iceland to find the pirate within, because the pirate within really represents change and a collective vision for the future.”
    - Birgitta Jonsdottir, Pirate Party lawmaker

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