Following their recent victory in Berlin, the German Pirate Party are now polling nationwide at 8%. This is important, as it’s over the 5% hurdle imposed by the German electoral system: so if people continue to support the Pirates at this level, they will definitely get elected to the Bundestag and European Parliament. The next Bundestag election is due in 2013, and if the Pirates do well then, it will provide them with publicity and credibility in their bid for the European election a year later.
Will the Germans be the first Pirate Party to be elected to a national parliament? Perhaps not: many other countries go to the vote before 2013. For example, the Swiss general election is later this month, and the Swiss Pirates are hoping to do well.
Amused Cynicism 