Piraterna

Piraterna (Swedish for "The Pirates") is a political party in Sweden. Founded in 2006, it is a part of the international Pirate Party movement, which advocates for civil liberties, transparency, and reform of copyright and patent law.

The Swedish Pirate Party's core platform focuses on intellectual property reform, advocating for the abolition of patents and a reduction in the term of copyright. They also champion strong privacy rights, opposing mass surveillance and data retention policies. Open government and direct democracy are further key tenets of their ideology.

Piraterna achieved significant success in the 2009 European Parliament election, winning one seat and later a second when the Lisbon Treaty came into effect. This marked a breakthrough for the Pirate Party movement internationally. While they have not replicated this success in subsequent national and European elections, they remain a notable presence in Swedish politics, continuing to advocate for their core principles. Their influence extends beyond electoral success, contributing to the public discourse on issues such as online freedom and digital rights. They operate both online and offline, engaging with the public through social media, public events, and policy proposals.