Pirate Party in France: Not a huge debut

A by-election in the 10th District of Yvelines has given The Pirate Party's French wing a first electoral test. It wasn't entirely a resounding success, with the candidate Maxime Rouquet winning just two per cent of the vote, trailing everyone. Even the Party Of France.

Still, campaigning built around copyright might be new, but the Pirate Party are happy to be part of one of the oldest traditions of politics: presenting a by-election soaking as part of a strategy. This was all about creating visibility rather than doing anything like winning. Or getting close to winning.

It's worth also noting that the turnout was a little over a quarter of the electorate.