James Delahunty
27 Oct 2012 10:14
Pirate Party losing support.
That's according to a report by Der Spiegel, a popular news magazine in Germany, which blames the Pirate Party itself for declining interest. Germany's Pirate Party holds some seats in state legislative bodies such as the Berlin state parliament and in North Rhine-Westphalia, but do not hold any seats in the Federal parliament.
Recent polls put the Pirate Party near the so called "five-percent hurdle," which is the percentage of votes a party needs in order to take up any seats in the Bundestag.
The report blames the Pirate Party's mismanagement, and poor public relations for Germany citizens turning away from them. It focuses some attention on Johannes Ponader, who has been plastered all over the German media after an appearance on a talk show in which he explained his polyamorous lifestyle - he likes multiple relationships - ad his feet massaged and threw his arms around the host.
Attention has also been called to his frequent dependence on Germany's "Hartz IV" benefits program for the long-term unemployed, and his request for party supporters to donante funds for a salary (his position with the Party is voluntary) has given the Party bad press. Some other members of the Party even reportedly asked him to make fewer media appearances.
Other problems facing the Pirate Party are the differing political and economic philosophies of its members.