(Image source: FrumForum)

BY CAMILLE MAESTRACCI

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

Looting treasure, internet downloads and now political seats. In Germany, the word pirate means more than just a skull and crossbones. The recently-formed pirate party is making waves in Berlin and is now the capital’s fourth biggest political party.

At the last Berlin state election, Business Insider shows the “Piraten Partei” won 15 seats in Parliament with about 9 percent of the vote.

The Pirates were originally campaining for Internet rights like data protection and free filesharing, but leader Sebastian Nerz says, now it’s about serious politics. Deutsche Welle reports.

“We were told so many times that we wouldn't be able to clear the five-percent hurdle in Berlin. But yesterday, we spectacularly proved that we could. Now we can prove that we are capable of serious, long-term politics in parliament, that we are trustworthy. And if we can prove that, I believe we will manage the five-percent hurdle in national polls, too”

Pirate parties are a new political trend in Europe. The first was born in Sweden in five years ago in protest of the prosecution of the peer-to-peer downloading site Pirate Bay. Swedish leader Anna Troberg gladly welcomes the German pirates’ victory.

“You had such a great success in the election yesterday, and me and all the other pirates in Sweden really want to congratulate you on that. I know how much hard work it takes to run an election campaign, and you did it wonderfully, and you came out on top and we are very proud of you”

Over 30 countries are following the Swedish example. Le Figaro reports the French party has a ways to go, and The Guardian writes Germany’s success has to do with its strictly proportional voting system. In Britain, the majoritarian system is more likely to exclude smaller parties.

“…what happened in Berlin definitely couldn't happen here. If you doubt that, just ask the Lib Dems, whose share of the popular vote never translates into an equivalent number of parliamentary seats”

In Germany, political contestants accused the Pirate Party of being a protest party without a proper political agenda. Animation site NMA TV seems not to take the pirates too seriously, either.

“The SDP and German Green Party did well and would probably form a coalition. But the Pirate Party will add a new voice to German politics. The party’s platform calls for the decriminalization of downloading, free internet in cities and legalization of marijuana.”

Transcript by Newsy.