Pirate Party Australia salutes and congratulates the Pirate Party of Germany, Die Piratenpartei, on their historic election victory in the Federal State of Berlin.

After five years of hard work, the Pirates of Germany have finally reaped the rewards of their labour and are likely to secure about fifteen seats in the state legislature. This will put them in a position to contribute new perspectives and voices to the government of Berlin, with a uniquely positioned understanding of the world of today.

Campaigning on central tenets of governmental transparency, access to information, knowledge and culture and a rejection of mass surveillance with a focus on the protection of civil liberties, The Berlin Pirates have gathered 8.9% of the popular vote and demonstrated that their message represents significant concerns held by the population that are neglected or opposed by traditional parties. This exposes a paradigm-shift in the understanding of politics, about the manner and rights of citizens to engage with their governments and elected officials. The Piratenpartei is a manifestation of that change.

Pirate Parties across the globe continue to form, grow and develop — many have already had huge impacts. In Tunisia, Pirates distributed censorship breaking software, in the Czech Republic, they challenge the notion that linking is a crime; all over the world pirates stand for access to information, transparency and civil liberties. As governments the world over move to regulate the Internet, restrict and control information and culture, the Pirate movement has never been more important.

“We are seeing the maturation of a political movement. The boarding of Berlin by German pirates is representative of a political system in dire need of an update. Archaic information monopolies have no place in a modern information society. The Internet is a hugely transformative force that necessitates a different approach to decision making and governance. Openness and transparency are paramount, as are our civil liberties.” said Rodney Serkowski, President of Pirate Party Australia .

In Australia, we have seen similar threats such as the spectre of disconnection laws, Internet censorship, closed government and decision making processes and an erosion of civil liberties. We are working hard and looking forward to the future in Australia where Pirate Party Australia intends to register for and contest elections with a goal of achieving local victories that further the cause of civil liberties, open society and intellectual freedom.

Once again, we congratulate the Berlin Piratenpartei for their hard work and for the inspiration they provide to Pirates across the world.