This is incorrect as you can see from f.e. the Privacy Barometer[1]. The PvdD (Party for the Animals, how unfortunate their name may be) has always been very pro-privacy & civilian rights and if you'd read their party statements you'd know it is not "just a side issue" for that party.
Of the parties that can be checked because they've had a seat in the government it is one of the best parties to vote on if privacy, surveillance etc. are important for you. It remains to be seen if the Pirate Party will do better if it ever ends up with seats in the government.
The pirate party is awfully specific, like the pvdd (party for animal welfare; partij voor de dieren). I would love to vote for the pirate party if they would just stick to IT, but they can't: if someone gets into parliament, they suddenly have to decide on everything.
I'm serious about privacy and IT stuff, but I am also serious about education and peace. Calling your party the animal party, 50+ party, pirate party, etc. just forces you to ignore anyone who doesn't identify as an animal lover, as 50+ or as a pirate (or internet freedom fighter).
> Did you even read the party programme of piratenpartij?
It's not because they have no (or a bad) programme, I said what I said because they are "the pirate party".
Regarding the PVV, the "party vor vreedom" (literally translated, for the non-Dutch people here), yeah they're literally George Orwell's 1984 doublespeak. A party for freedom that restricts our freedom every step of the way, and focuses on muslims the whole time. They should have been called the anti-foreigner party, or perhaps rename to Autochtonen Eerst (as a reference to America First). But anyway that was not the topic.
The PvdD (Animal Party) has actually had a lot of successes on their main topic since they entered parliament. In the Dutch system, tiny parties can have a large impact if they make proposals that have broad support in society. And even if the support isn't there yet (which might be the case here – the sentiment is rather in favour of "security" at the moment), they will have a voice that is going to be heard.
Also, the PP actually has standpoints on all major issues. In many ways they're a more libertarian version of Green Left.
> Don't just look at the name. The PvdD also has a lot of good policies in terms of privacy and other social issues.
Indeed, they do! That's why it's such a shame they're called PvdD because I don't have any particular affiliation with animals. I'm fine with them being treated well, but if that is so leading that they had to name their party like that, I am not sure it's a party I should vote for.
I think the name does a good job of presenting them as a party of compassion and recognising that we are also animals. Denying that part of our nature by pretending humans are especially rational is one leading cause of unworkable policies.
Oh is that why they chose that name? Because I completely agree with that sentiment, but I thought the point of starting the party was to improve conditions for animals as opposed to only humans.
Did you have a look at their party programme? Because their politics extend beyond just technology matters. I think their name does them a disservice; but they probably wanted to maintain ties to the more global Pirate Party movements.
The Dutch Piratenpartij always made a very "Occupy-ish" disorganized and unprofessional impression on me, but maybe someone here as an inside view or a different perspective?
Many parties started like that. They're under very good leadership of Ancilla van der Leest now. She's knowledgeable, driven, and much better at communication/politics than the people before her.
I'm really just a bystander but it seems to me that she's already made the party significantly better organized since she started. Notably some people who preferred drama over results have resigned from board since she started. There hasn't been any drama since.
Of the parties that can be checked because they've had a seat in the government it is one of the best parties to vote on if privacy, surveillance etc. are important for you. It remains to be seen if the Pirate Party will do better if it ever ends up with seats in the government.
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[1] https://www.privacybarometer.nl/pagina/50/Actuele_stand_van_...