Pirate Party claims EU booty: confirmed

Published: 8 Jun 09 08:26 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19930/20090608/

Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation

Sweden's Pirate Party, on a platform of integrity issues including the legalization of internet file sharing, sensationally claimed a seat in the EU parliament as election results were confirmed on Sunday.

The other main winners in the election were the Greens and the Liberal party.

The Pirate Party won 7.1 percent of votes, taking one of Sweden's 18 seats in the EU parliament, with ballots in all but one of the country's 5,664 constituencies counted as the electoral commission halted the tally for the evening.

"Privacy issues and civil liberties are important to people and they demonstrated that clearly when they voted today," one of the Pirate Party's candidates, Anna Troberg, told Swedish television on Sunday.

The party was founded in January 2006 and quickly attracted members angered by controversial laws adopted in Sweden that criminalised file sharing and authorised monitoring of emails.

Its membership shot up after a Stockholm court on April 17 sentenced four Swedes to a year in jail for running one of the world's biggest file sharing sites, The Pirate Bay.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's conservative Moderates won 18.8 percent of votes and four seats, close to its score in the European election in 2004 but down sharply from the 26.1 percent it won in Sweden's 2006 general election.

Coming little more than a year ahead of Sweden's next general election in September 2010, political analyst Mats Knutson called the result a "formidable cold shower" for Reinfeldt, speaking on public television SVT.

The opposition Social Democrats, traditionally Sweden's biggest party, won 24.6 percent, also close to their result in 2004 and maintaining their five seats in the EU parliament.

The four-party Alliance coalition - made up of the Moderate, Centre, Liberal and Christian Democrat parties - won 42.6 percent of votes and nine seats, compared to 41.1 percent and eight seats for the leftist opposition comprising the Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party.

The Greens scored a strong rise in support, riding a wave of climate concern across the continent, and were credited with 10.9 percent of votes compared to 6.0 percent in 2004 and doubled their seats to two.

Jan Björklund's Liberal party claimed 13.6 percent of the vote and three seats in the parliament. The party's success was credited as confirmation of Björklund's leadership before the general elections next year.

The EU-critical Left party saw its support collapse from 12.8 percent in 2004 to 5.6 percent and one seat, a drop of one.

The far-right Sweden Democrats, who are not represented in Sweden's parliament, meanwhile tripled their score but not enough to win a seat in parliament.

Their support rose from 1.1 percent in 2004 - and 2.9 percent in the 2006 general election - to 3.3 percent.

The Feminist initiative (Feministiskt initiativ) made large gains on their 2006 general election showing of 0.7 percent, claiming 2.1 percent of the vote and attracting 65,000 votes.

The party's leader Gudrun Schyman put the success down to hard work and gave thanks to former Abba music mogul Benny Andersson for his financial support.

Voter turnout in Sweden was 43.8 percent, higher than the 37.1 percent in
the 2004 election, election officials said.

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.

10:20 June 8, 2009 by byke
Benny dollars, Benny dollars ..... Forget Disney world ..... Sweden's gonna get a musical version of "the black and white menstruals"
12:14 June 8, 2009 by Gower76
Piratpartiet's surge is a sad reflection of the fact that politics, or at least many people's relationship to it, is becoming increasingly superficial, throwaway, short-termist and irrelevant.

Forget welfare, education, healthcare, climate change, defence, trade, international aid - what really matters is whether you can download films without paying for them.

Still, rather the Pirate Party than the Sweden Democrats.
14:15 June 8, 2009 by Hawking
Don't be such sheeple. Do some due diligence on your own as to what the Piratpartiet stands for and is promoting. Hint: It's NOT what the main media is feeding you as, "- what really matters is whether you can download films without paying for them."

You can start here if you'd like to educate yourself.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2541736281918823479
14:28 June 8, 2009 by nodles90210
Congrats from Prague ! Czech media covered this at the beginning as free-music-downloading party, but young people on their internet sites flamed authors of such articles quickly. Now they present PP more-or-less in correct and fair way.
14:29 June 8, 2009 by ATT
The success of parties like Pirate Party (PP) shows the lack of attention from other larger traditional parties to some of peoples concern. PP is not all about free downloads but rather (internet) privacy. I certainly find PP beneficial in short term to force other parties to clearly define their position regarding this issue.

In special case of downloading files, It seems to me that the ruling parities act as a representative of the music or film industries trying to make their failed business model to work. Any business with bad business model must fail. You can't limit peoples privacy because some companies don't make as much money as they would like to. Internet has changed many traditional business models such as providing service for free (e.g. google).
15:32 June 8, 2009 by eZee.se
Pity PP got just one seat... I really was hoping for 3... or at least 2

that would really send a clear message to the morons who dip into the pockets of big media
19:16 June 8, 2009 by nzroller
I imagine the Pirate Party is not all about privacy either. Reform of patent/copyright law is about ensuring monopolies are not created to the detriment of innovation, it's about a more effective economy and economy touches all aspects of society. For example, patents on life-saving drugs create a monopoly on such drugs -- pay the fee or you can't produce the drug and people die. Most cases may not be as dire as that but it's a drag on the economy -- people are less likely to create. Having long-term copyright (20, 50, 80 years after the author/artist dies) is silly.
20:55 June 8, 2009 by spy
Interesting comments but I don't buy that PP got 7.1% of the vote for anything other than their militancy over copyright laws.

If you voted for them then that's your choice (and fine) but don't expect me to believe that it was for any other reason than you like downloading material for free.
00:16 June 9, 2009 by Dagem Hailemariam
Spy don't ASSUME...

you are making an ASS out of U and ME!!

For me, there are a lot of reasons why I support the Pirate Party, but the "FINAL" straw was making a highlight video of my daughters birthday and being told that because I have Stevie Wonder playing in the background of one of the clips in the video, I am Infringing on the copyright! Not all of us are as lazy as you seem to make us out to be.

But I guess since accusations are usually projections of our own weaknesses, it might just be a case that you are that simple in the way you choose to vote.
01:24 June 9, 2009 by jack sprat
You can argue till the cows come home regarding the legality or otherwise of Pirate Bay.

However little is said of the massive protectionism that the greedy multinational recording companies,drug companies and the rest build around themselves, aided and abetted by the major Western Govts,(whilst feathering each others nest),in order to ensure disgustingly obscene and immoral profit margins on their products, in order to screw poor old working class Joe Soap of every last penny of his hard earned cash.

I am a great believer in fair play but only on a level playing surface,so if P.B.help to level the pitch and even the odds then the best of British to them, until such time as Joe Soap starts to get a fair deal...but I wont be holding my breath.
16:17 June 9, 2009 by dtes
WE SUCEEDED! POWER TO THE NERDS!
16:19 June 9, 2009 by ShaneW
Contrary to the UK euro elections it was nice to see the Swedish Parties actually debate European issues.

I was delighted with Folkpartiet's vote, they fought a very positive, very pro EU campaign and were rewarded with a good increase in its vote share.
23:15 June 9, 2009 by spy
Dagem Hailemariam

If I want to 'assume' then I will! What are you the 'thought police?'

Also I 'assume' that it would be unlikely for Stevie Wonder's publishers to be too worried about your example and they might even consider you 'simple' for getting so het-up about it.
01:46 June 15, 2009 by Bettawrekonize
"don't expect me to believe that it was for any other reason than you like downloading material for free. "

Who are YOU to tell OTHERS why they voted how they did? I think those who voted are a better authority over why they voted how they did than you.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Three arrested for killing of Swedish soldiers

Three arrested for killing of Swedish soldiers

Three men have been arrested in Afghanistan on suspicion of being connected to the the death of Swedish soldiers Johan Palmlöv and Gunnar Andersson near Mazar-e Sharif on Sunday. READ (10 COMMENTS) »

Parental 'child sick leave' peaks in February

Each February, Swedish parents take an estimated 600,000 paid leave days to take care of sick children, according to new Social Insurance Agency statistics. READ »

'Only good foreign soldier on Afghan soil is a dead one': Jan Myrdal

'Only good foreign soldier on Afghan soil is a dead one': Myrdal

Swedish author and anti-war activist Jan Myrdal has sparked outrage following a public lecture in which he appeared to welcome the killing of Swedish, US and other soldiers. READ »

Sharp increase in asylum seeker deportations

Sharp increase in asylum seeker deportations

The number of asylum seekers deported from Sweden rose by 1,300 during 2009, according to new figures from the Swedish Migration Agency. READ »

Dental service probed as girl dies after toothache

The Swedish Welfare Board is set to investigate the Swedish Public Dental Service after a nine-year-old girl died following repeated visits to the dentist complaining of toothache and an abscess. READ »

Ingrid, 79, declared dead by Swedish tax authorities

79-year-old Ingrid Ståhl of Malmö in southern Sweden found out to her surprise that she had been registered as dead after a mistake by the Swedish Tax Agency. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Söderling claims comeback win

Söderling claims comeback win

Swedish tennis star Robin Söderling showed no signs of the elbow complaint which knocked him out of the Australian Open, firing 26 aces to earn a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Frenchman Florent Serra on Monday in the Rotterdam Open. READ »

Man shot on Stockholm street

A 29-year-old man was shot on Södermalm in Stockholm on Monday night. He was hit in the leg and in the shoulder, but was able to call an ambulance. No one has been arrested as the man refuses to talk to the police. READ (1 COMMENT) »

More Politics
Find a new job in Sweden now
Technical Support
Stockholm
Mercuri Urval
We are looking for a Sales Engineer as Regional Manager for Region Denmark
Denmark
Swep International AB
FP&A PROFESSIONAL
Stockholm
Michael Page International
Technical Support
Stockholm
Mercuri Urval
Finnish speaking Customer Contact Center/Call taker
Stockholm
Mercuri Urval
Norwegian speaking Customer Contact Center/Call taker
Stockholm
Mercuri Urval

ALL JOBS »



Blog Update: Boston Blatte

09 February 22:56

Safety: overly conscious? »

"No one is surprised to hear that safety is important to Swedes. After all, the first 3-point seat belt was first put into production for cars in the Volvo PV444 in 1959. But there are moments when I think that the devotion to safety extends beyond the fair margin to allow for Darwin Award nominees...." READ »

Poll

Are you interested in subletting your apartment in Sweden within the next two years?

   

View Results
Highlights
Photo: Tommy Andersson/Scanpix
SPORT »
Biathlete Helena Jonsson gunning for gold as Swedes set sights on ten Vancouver medals
Two year wait for Stockholm flat: report
NATIONAL »
Two year wait for Stockholm flat: report
Photo: www.finest.se
GALLERY »
The weekend's 'finest': February 5-7
Photo: Siri Ambjörnsson
SOCIETY »
Finding your inner Agnetha: The camp turning out a new wave of Swedish rock mums
Photo: www.stureplan.se
GALLERY »
Midweek revellers: February 3-4
Photo: Cathy Yeulet
LIFESTYLE »
February in Sweden: No sex please, we're cold
Photo: Billy Talent by Dustin Rubin
LIFESTYLE »
What's On in Sweden: February 4th - 11th Billy Talent, Bodypoppers, Bob Marley tribute.
Photo: Roland Karlsson
OPINION »
Profile: Sweden's new Minister for EU Affairs, Birgitta Ohlsson: A colourful politician with feminist credentials and lofty ambitions.
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 Diana Orving
    Diana Orving’s line consists of organic yet edgy fashion. The garments are delicate and luxurious. Both structured and deconstructed elements coexist in many of her pieces and produce a surprising...
  • 5 questions for The Local Firm
    The Local Firm is a young independent label created by Richard Hutchinson and Axel Nyhage that is based in Stockholm. The label has a reputation for a refreshing viewpoint on fashion. Drawing...
  • 5 questions for Kerstin Ekman
    Swedish author Kerstin Ekman started writing detective novels, then moved on to more psychological and social themes. In September 2009 she released her latest novel Mordets praktik. Sweden.se asked...
  • The Swedish Model in practice
    The term “Swedish Model” is used to describe the fact that the Swedish society is based on a high degree of public financing. Let’s find out what this means in practice by following a regular...
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

121 jobs in Sweden, in English
48 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Jobs
Expatriate in Stockholm?
We offer services for foreigners who've recently moved or are planning to move to Stockholm. Corresponding with local authorities, organizing your home, seeking childcare and domestic help, plus more.
MORE INFO
Counseling in English Individuals & Couples - Stockholm
Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
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
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: Trainee Sales Executives
Midfield Media, a leading provider of events and executive forums, is seeking Trainee Sales Executives
FULL JOB DETAILS
Enjoy a beautiful winter weekend in Västervik
Treat yourself with a calm and relaxing weekend in beautiful archipelago surroundings
MORE INFORMATION
JOB: Copy editor and English speaking project manager/editor
Tidningskompaniet, one of Sweden's leading agencies for custom publishing, seeks two new employees in Stockholm and Göteborg
FULL JOB DETAILS
Folk High Schools in Sweden
The Swedish Folk High Schools have courses that give you the possibility to bring out all your colors!
www.folkhogskola.nu