Pirates Invade Berlin: Election Upset

Zuerst in den '80'er Jahren gab es die Grünen

Gestern, am 18. September 2011 in Berlin gab es die Piraten.

Es war eine Sensation.

Yesterday was the first time since the '80's that a new political party has climbed the German stage as winners.

The Pirates Party, which was formed in 2006, captured 9% of the votes in Berlin (topping the Greens, who entered the political stage in 1981 with 7.2%).

Now, the newcomers are quiet about their plans. "First, we'll remove all of our election posters," commented one of the chief pirates, Andreas Baum. "It would serve no purpose to pretend that we are not amateurs. We are visionary, but also reasonable." Baum, himself terribly shy, explained his party's strong showing by pointing out that "the competition was arrogant, and just really weak."

There was no professional marketing done on behalf of the Pirates. Instead, intelligent members met and devised various themes. Any member who wanted to could make a poster. There were also plenty of pirate-themed rallies in rather apolitical places.

Their party also encapsulated something the others didn't: Believability, Authenticity, and Fresh Views. Some of their themes include:
• A truer, public-led, democracy
• Complete separation of church and state
• Incorporating a minimum income for those on unemployment
• Legalizing "soft" drugs
• Transparent government
• Cyber Security

The Party Chairman, Sebastian Nerz, said that they hope ,,in the future, to be able to stay true to these ideals."

--Roughly translated from SPIEGEL ONLINE - 18.9.2011 - WAHL IN BERLIN: Überraschungserfolg in Berlin: ANGRIFF der Piraten von Michael Sontheimer und Sven Becker


--> How do you think a Pirate Party might fare in the USA?

--> Might the Pirates be serving a related role in Germany to the one the Tea Party is currently serving in the USA?