This post is also available in: French

The Pirate Party of Iceland saw three Pirates entering the Althingi (Icelandic Parliament) just over a year ago. Now  they are ready to see more Pirates taking seats in regional assemblies. Voting will take place on 31st of May 2014.

Over the last year PPIS has seen its polling numbers more than double to over 11% nationally (they got elected with 5.1% of the vote). However, even in Iceland the local elections are different. With the loss of the “larger than life” actor and comedian Jón Gnaar, as mayor of Reykjavík, the political scene is fluid but the Pirates are still heading for at least one council seat in the city. They will also be running in Hafnarfjörð, Reykjanesbær and Kópavogur.

Pirate Member of the Icelandic Parliament Helgi Hrafn Gunnarson told the Pirate Times:

According to the polls we seem relatively sure of at least one person in four counties each with the possibility of two people in two of them. This is with the ever-present caveat that we tend to be over-represented in polls, since we appeal mostly to people who are easily reached by those conducting surveys, who incidentally are also the same demographic least likely to vote. So we’re cautiously optimistic.

The Party has been working for the citizens of Iceland with not only ‘well thought out and innovative policy’ but also with practical tools to enhance democracy throughout the island country. Icelanders can see what their MPs are up to with the Parliament Viewer. They can also use wasa2il to collectively formulate questions and concerns that the Pirate MPs will bring before the parliament on their behalf. Another recent tool, just out of development, is a ‘safety valve’ that Pirate Times will explain about in an upcoming article.

We also asked campaign manager  Ásta Helgadóttir to say something. She said;

I dont’ have time right now. It’s been crazy.

Something that we are very happy to hear from a campaign manager. We look forward to hearing her comments after the results come in.

Featured image: CC BY-SA 3.0 PPIS. Candidates are lined up on a replica sailing ship under the words “We want you hired.”

About Andrew Reitemeyer

I joined the Pirate Party of Lower Saxony in Germany in April 2012, once I found out that non citizens were welcome to join and become active members of the Party.
I joined the Pirate Times soon after it was started as a proof reader and am now an editor and author. Since then I have returned to my native New Zealand and joined the Pirate Party of New Zealand.
Politically I come from the libertarian left and have, up to now, not regarded any political party as having a solution for the democratic deficit that envelops the world. With the advent of the Pirate Party, which truly embraces grass roots democracy, I have found a political home. The Pirate Times is a way I can contribute to furthering the Pirate Movement around the world.
Skype: frithogar

 

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This post is also available in: FrenchThe Pirate Party of Iceland saw three Pirates entering the Althingi (Icelandic Parliament) just over a year ago. Now  they are ready to see…