Pirates – the end of an illusion
From Ostrava Anarchist Federation
October 11, 2024
The Czech Pirate Party, which until recently held the hopes of some reformist anarchists, has ended up in the dustbin of history. What lessons can we learn from this?
As a collective of the Ostrava Anarchist Federation, we have long opposed the tendencies of some leftists and anti-capitalists who saw potential in cooperation with the state and capitalism . The words of the Pirate Vice President about “infiltration of the system” already sounded funny back then, and when the Czech Pirates succeeded in the parliamentary elections, it was clear to us how it would turn out.
The Pirates could still have some sense and remain in opposition as a protest party. That would perhaps allow them to hold on to their seats for two or three more terms. However, the intoxication of power was too strong, and so the former fighters against the establishment entered a coalition with the biggest creatures of post-November politics. The fact that a mafia member, known in criminal circles as Don Pablo, had taken the position of Minister of Justice was not the slightest reason for them to topple the government. They gradually began to liquidate progressive and anti-capitalist party factions, let's remember the Tožiček or Michaillid cases. And in the end, their most prominent face became Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, who did not even have enough decency to unequivocally condemn the genocide in Gaza and label Israel a terrorist state. Thanks to his sycophancy, he also stayed on the sidelines and may sail in the colors of TOP 09 in the next term.
The Pirates have shown that change through representative democracy is not possible. Any other party would have ended up the same. Power corrupts and the spineless Lipava people always seize the reins in the representative system. We will only enforce systemic change from below, through revolutionary direct action.
