Abstract
This research examines the rapid growth in popularity of Iceland’s Pirate Party (Piratur) by analyzing recent election results and public opinion polling (2013-17) on the popularity and ideological placement of the Pirate Party. We find that most respondents viewed the Pirate Party as centrist, and the majority of the respondents were neutral in their view of the party, although negative assessments rose by 2017.
Highlights
Iceland’s Pirate Party (Piratar) held a mere three parliamentary seats in early 2015, polls showed its support increasing from 13 to 30% in a few weeks from February to April of 2015, with a peak of 38.6 %
We find that most respondents viewed the Pirate Party as centrist, and the majority of the respondents were neutral in their view of the party, negative assessments rose by 2017
This study examined all political parties, including for the first time the Pirate Party of Germany
Summary
Iceland’s Pirate Party (Piratar) held a mere three parliamentary seats in early 2015, polls showed its support increasing from 13 to 30% in a few weeks from February to April of 2015, with a peak of 38.6 % This party became Iceland’s most popular party for a nearly unbroken period of seventeen months, leading up to the October 2016 elections. These unexpected poll results led many political observers to expect that the Piratar party would be a major participant in any coalition government following the election (Leruth 2016a) In these 2016 general elections, the Piratar Party received only 14.5% of the popular vote (third place) and 10 seats, out of 63 parliamentary seats (tied for second place). In the subsequent elections in 2017, called due to yet another governmental scandal, the Piratar party, gained only 9.2% of the vote and lost four seats. (Iceland Monitor, 2017) The remainder of this article centers on the history and platform of this party, and examines its likely supporters, and public perception of its ideology
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