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Pirate Party leads Icelandic voting intentions poll

Voters keen to make incumbents walk the plank

Icelandic research outfit MMR's bi-monthly polling has found The Pirate Party is currently the nation's most popular political party.

Founded in 2012, Píratar currently has three members in Iceland's Parliament and one on Reykjavik City's council. The party's platform emphasises direct democracy, government transparency at home and in dealings with other nations to allow informed decision-making, civil rights and a revision of copyright laws.

As the MMR graph below shows, the party's previously enjoyed support at up to 20 per cent, but the rise to 23.9 per cent in a poll conducted between March 13th and 18th produced a new high water mark, putting it ahead of the Independence Party, which rules Iceland in coalition with the Progressive Party. The Progressive Party's Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson is the nation's Prime Minister.

Icelandic voting intentions trends

Icelandic voting intentions trends. Click here for a bigger image

MMR says the sharp climb for Píratar reported in its research doesn't represent a methodological mess or a rogue poll. Píratar members have, however, told local outlet Visir they're at a loss to explain the party's sudden rise in popularity other than Icelanders' general dissatisfaction with the nation's government

Iceland goes to the polls every four years, so an election is not due until 2017. That's plenty of time for Píratar to either plunder more votes, or wash up on the rocks of Icelandic politics. Even if the party's current level of support holds, it will likely need to form a coalition to take part in government. ®

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