Pirate Party Sweden's third-largest: poll

Published: 22 May 09 10:12 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19590/20090522/

Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation

Sweden’s Pirate Party has climbed into third place among parties running for the European Parliament elections, according to a new opinion poll released Thursday.

The Pirate Party now has the support of 7.9 percent of Swedish voters, up from 3.4 percent from a week earlier, according to the Demoskop poll conducted between May 13 and Wednesday.

That is still well behind Sweden's opposition Social Democrats with 35.9 percent and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's conservative Moderate Party with 24.1 percent.

But it could be enough for it to clinch at least one seat in the European Parliament, on the heels of the April 17 conviction in Sweden of the three founders of the unrelated file-sharing website The Pirate Bay.

"Of course it is fantastic, but nothing is clear until the votes are counted," Pirate Party leader Rick Falkvinge told Sweden's domestic TT news agency.

"It is still up to all those who care about basic civil rights and these fundamental values to go out and vote."

Founded in 2006, the Pirate Party "wants to fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system and ensure that citizens' rights to privacy are respected," it says on its website.

It took 0.6 percent of the vote in Sweden's last general election in 2006.

Demoskop spoke to more than 1,000 adults in Sweden for its poll, with about one in three respondents saying they were certain to cast their ballots on June 7 for the only directly-elected EU institution.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This Facebook  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

12:07 May 22, 2009 by SaltWater
Sweden stills to be one of the most mature democracies in the world, and this proves it!
13:30 May 22, 2009 by Nemesis
I can't wait to see delegates from the Pirate party in the European Parliament.

This has potential to really upset a lot of people with vested interests.

I say vote for the pirate party.
15:05 May 22, 2009 by eZee.se
This is going a little too easy for PP,

I wonder when the people who have money to burn are going to throw a few hurdles in their way because their feathers are getting ruffled.

Anyway, PP has my vote... and am making sure the rest of my families vote.

Talk to your friends, a lot of them are not even going to vote because its "not worth it", offer to take them to dinner if they vote for PP ;)

it sometimes works, trust me!

/Ryan
19:41 May 22, 2009 by badhytten
Vote PP!

Only then can the other parties be forced to follow!

Next Swedish election is to valuable to be lost for the other parties!

A vote for PP now will do!
01:57 May 23, 2009 by dtes
yeah im down with em too! VOTE PIRATE PARTY people, anything else is just an insult to your intelligence!
03:05 May 23, 2009 by nic_tester
People tend to underestimate the difficulty of the craft of politics. Thus, to much success too early and you crash and burn. Example: new democracy.

That said, I was set to vote for the pirateparty after the travesty of the pb trial. I intensely dislike the cocnept of a political trial in my country. However, it seems like the swedish justice system is, at long last, getting its act together, so I now feel free to cast a more constructive and "true" vote.
04:11 May 23, 2009 by eZee.se
> However, it seems like the swedish justice system is, at long last, getting its act together,...

Ohh really?!!!

wired.com/threatlevel/2009/05/judge-reviewing-pirate-bay-trial-bias-is-removed-for-bias/
06:08 May 23, 2009 by freethinker
I never though an organization such as PP would ever get anywhere. COngrats Swedes you're bucking the status quo, and are a beacon to the world of what democracy should be. I find it halarious that after a fashion the entertainment industry is proving to be the PP's most ardent supporters. Thier greed and manipulation of the Swedeish justice system is launching PP to stardom. Grats PP. I raise a glass of bear in your honor.
09:32 May 23, 2009 by Jamtjim
Wow Freethinker. I know that you Americans are supposed to be hard and macho but a glass of bear! How do you stop all the fur and bits of bone from stickng in your teeth? How big is the f#&king glass not to mention the blender you must need? Watch out Yogi... freethinkers coming for you ;-)
12:51 May 23, 2009 by kaze
If I could be bothered to vote (its a hastle) I'd vote for them.
12:55 May 23, 2009 by Miss Kitten
I dunno. My boyfriend walked down our local ICA (about a three minute walk) and cast his vote there. No hassle at all.
17:04 May 23, 2009 by kaze
He's registered and presumably Swedish though?

I definatly remember reading I'd have to go to the embassy in Stockholm.
17:21 May 23, 2009 by Puffin
You only have to go to the embassy to vote in your own's country's national election.

If you are an EU national you can vote in the European elections as long as you are registered in Sweden - have they not sent you a polling card? Mine came a few weeks ago and the polling station is the local church hall.

You can also vote early at a number of locations
17:23 May 23, 2009 by Puffin
Swedes have a history of using the EU elections to vote for protest parties - last time it was the anti EU Junilistan
17:38 May 23, 2009 by The Lix-a
i thre away my card i got in the mail, bugger! didnt think, i forgot about piratebay. Trying to tell my girlfriend to vote atleast but she says she cant be bothered.
18:23 May 23, 2009 by freethinker
Jamtjim, I meant beer...lol how are you? I'm about to go see the new terminator movie.
18:16 May 24, 2009 by Ed Tracey
Arrrgh, mates, raise a glass of grog in honor of the Pirate Party.
18:30 May 24, 2009 by freethinker
har...har... raise t'brew fer Pirat party!
18:49 May 24, 2009 by Miss Kitten
Drink up, me hearties, Yo Ho!

(But why is the rum gone???)
19:19 May 24, 2009 by freethinker
hic...casts a bleary gaze towards Miss Kitty. Ah Lass, I've been protecting t' rum from those unsavory sorts who would seek to greedily consume it, thus Lass I've taken it upon meself t' put t'rum into the safy of me tummy. Opps seems I have rum in M tankerd...ere ye go...spills some as e staggers to deliver the tankerd, offering newly the filled tankerd of run to Miss kitty.
20:18 May 24, 2009 by kaze
No I never got a card.

I don't think I'm registered.

Meh, no big deal.
18:43 May 26, 2009 by tigger007
NOW! that's what i like!!!

swedes showing some BALLS! GOOO PP! u have my vote!
23:04 May 26, 2009 by Mamoshka
i like them i think i might vote to them or vänster i dunno
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
'Name and shame sex-buyers': Ask

'Name and shame sex-buyers': Ask

Sweden's justice minister Beatrice Ask wants families to know if their husbands or fathers are suspected of buying sex in order to shame them into curbing their errant behaviour. READ (23 COMMENTS) »

BA strike set to hit Swedish flights

BA strike set to hit Swedish flights

Travellers between Sweden and the UK face delays and cancellations this weekend due to a strike by British Airways cabin crew, with three out of five flights from Stockholm to London cancelled on Sunday. READ »

'Millennium' film opens to rousing US reviews

'Millennium' film opens to rousing US reviews

The first of the Stieg Larsson Millenium trilogy films, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, has opened to resounding reviews from US critics and audiences not known for cherishing obscure subtitled films from Scandinavia. READ (16 COMMENTS) »

Serial killer investigation 'a scandal'

The mother of Therese Johannessen has described the investigation into her daughter's death as scandalous, as an evidence controversy sheds doubt on the conviction of the Swedish serial murderer Thomas Quick. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

High demand for Muhammad cartoons

High demand for Muhammad cartoons

Swedish artist Lars Vilks has confirmed that he has sold around 20 copies of his cartoon depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad as a dog. A colleague has now created a similar piece with Vilks himself as the dog's head. READ (57 COMMENTS) »

Warm weather heightens risk of spring floods

Warm weather heightens risk of spring floods

The recent warmer weather across many parts of Sweden has started to melt the winter's record snow falls, bringing with it an increased risk of flooding, agencies warn. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Sweden proposes veterans memorial day

The Swedish government has proposed the establishment of May 29th as an official veteran soldiers day. Further measures have been announced to ensure that ex-soldiers will receive the care and support they need. READ (17 COMMENTS) »

Court fines Stockholm couple for faked sex

A Swedish court has fined a couple for disorderly conduct after they were reported for having simulated sex on their patio. READ (13 COMMENTS) »

More Politics
Find a new job in Sweden now
19/03 Expert Financial Management on project accounting
Poolia AB
Stockholm
19/03 Senior Oil Products Market Analyst (m/f)
E.ON Energy Trading
Düsseldorf, Germany
19/03 Danish Customer Service Representative
Millipore
Solna
19/03 Student Worker in People & Organization (P&O)
Novozymes A/S
Bagsværd
19/03 Customer Service Business Backoffice Representative
Philips
Sweden All Locations
19/03 Service Delivery Manager
bwin Games AB
Stockholm

ALL JOBS »



Blog Update: Gamereactor

19 March 14:36

Bad Company 2 sells 2.3 million »

"Stockholm based EA DICE have announced that Battlefield: Bad Company 2, released earlier this month has sold-through 2.3 million copies (according to internal data) so far across three platforms in Europe and North America. It is on track to becoming the best selling release of March." READ »

Highlights
RESTAURANTS »
Find a table at Sweden's best restaurants - then review them on The Local in our new restaurant section
Photo: www.stureplan.se
GALLERY »
Out on the town: March 12-13
Photo: www.erikolsson.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week
Photo: Chesty Morgan
LIFESTYLE »
What's On in Sweden: March 19th - 25th: Chesty Morgan in Stockholm, Cameroonian Jazz in Gothenburg, a spin on Cinderella in Malmö, English comedy in Linköping.
March in Sweden: Slush, bears and skiing royals
LIFESTYLE »
March in Sweden: Slush, bears and skiing royals
Photo: www.finest.se
GALLERY »
The weekend's 'finest': March 12-13
Photo: Anastasia Pirvu
GALLERY »
Stockholm/Uppsala Street Style, March 7-8
Photo: Piteå Kommun
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Swedish Rail Destinations with SJ: Piteå is best known as a summer destination, but wintertime offers skating across the ice in the Gulf of Botnia and cosy dinners in the pretty town centre.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
Blog
  • 5 questions for Maria Ernestam
    The novels of journalist-become-author Maria Ernestam are both serious and humorous. Sometimes compared with works by Isabel Allende, Fay Weldon, Ingrid Noll and Ruth Rendell, Ernestam's books have...
  • Film studio Sweden
    Sweden — with its midnight sun, northern lights and areas with certainty of snow — is attracting filmmakers from all around the world. Besides an exotic environment, Sweden has other advantages as a...
  • Veronica Hedenmark
    “I’d like to travel and fly without having to think about the practical arrangements — but the practical part severely restricts my movements,” says entrepreneur Veronica Hedenmark, who uses an...
  • Victoria Webster
    Victoria Webster became Sweden’s first specialist in emergency medical care. This attracted considerable media attention, since she has a cerebral palsy (CP)* disorder.
Essentials

Jobs - in Sweden, in English
Get your career on track with our job listings from Sweden's top employers.

Property - renting or buying in Sweden
Navigating the minefield of renting or buying an apartment or house in Sweden.

Weather
"There is no bad weather, just bad clothes," say the Swedes. Here's the forecast for everyone else.

Introducing...
Every week The Local serves up a spicy helping of Swedish celebrity for your delectation.

Stockholm Syndrome
Tales of crazy Swedish classes, hamfisted attempts to understand - and explain - real Swedes, and varied experiences of fellow foreigners gathered for your amusement.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

446 jobs in Sweden, in English
134 new jobs this week
37 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English

David Schultz PsyD
Individuals & couples
In Stockholm in person or by phone or video conferencing
www.anxiousorblue.se
Play football in Stockholm
Kick-off the new football season with LFC, Stockholm's premier English-speaking football club.
MORE INFO
JOB: Digital Ad Operations Coordinator - Stockholm
The Local seeks a digital advertising specialist to administer advertising operations for our network of sites
FULL JOB DETAILS
Lovely Weekly Apartment Rental-Stockholm
Charming apartment in Lidingö that overlooks the forest, sea and city! 60 sq m, 2 rooms, sleeps 2-4 people. 7969 sek/week.
MORE INFO
Counseling in English Individuals & Couples - Stockholm
Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
JOB: Sales manager - Stockholm
The Local is seeking a talented media sales professional to drive our online advertising sales
FULL JOB DETAILS
Visiting Stockholm?
Then you'll find The Local's new Stockholm Section useful. Find pics, guides, news and lots of useful information about Stockholm.
www.thelocal.se/stockholm
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Welcome to Adlon Hotel in Stockholm
A perfect location both for business and pleasure. Centrally located, with atmosphere.
www.adlon.se
Winter archipelago tours
Visit Stockholm's beautiful archipelago. Great boat tours for all preferences.
MORE INFORMATION