(Update at the end of post) Member of German parliament Jörg Tauss today joined the German Pirate Party. Tauss had announced yesterday (in German) that he left the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In a video interview (in German) he now confirmed he has joined the party and cited (in German) the SPD’s recent approval to a highly controversial new law regarding control of Internet communication as the main reason or his change of mind: „Bit by bit the SPD developed from a civil rights party that bravely fought for freedom and justice into a party that only sucks up to the interests of the Union (the Christian Democratic Party)“.
The chairman of a group of SPD members of parliament of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, Tauss’s home state, Christian Lange, demanded (in German) Tauss return his parliamentary mandate to the SPD: „He can’t just capture the mandate“.
Update (June 22): A reader commented „should it not be mentioned in this context that Mr. Tauss is currently under investigation for allegedly having downloaded child pornography?“ Of course. I just wanted to provide some quick info in English when it happened because at the time there was nothing else available. Now there is.
That certainly is a noteworthy development, Matthias. But should it not be mentioned in this context that Mr. Tauss is currently under investigation for allegedly having downloaded child pornography? I believe that – however the investigation is going to turn out – Mr. Tauss’s connection with child pornography in the public perception might prove to do the Pirate Party more harm than winning a parliamentary seat can do them good. – Especially considering that the recently installed internet censorship law in Germany has been pushed through by cloaking it as anti child porn legislation.
Thomas, of course you’re right. I just wanted to provide some quick info in English when it happened because at the time there was nothing else available. I updated the post.