Pirate boss Katharina Nocun: "You have to bite through"
Katharina Nocun has been political director of the Pirate Party since May 2013. The post has already tattered some party members: Marina Weisband decided after a year for a policy break, and Johannes Ponader resigned after many quarrels. Katharina Nocun, who was born in Poland, is studying politics and economics. Her area of expertise is the topic of data protection, which she uses to write her master's thesis. She describes herself as a "network activist".
Katharina Nocun
© Miriam JuschkatChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com: In a few days, your first general election will be a pirate boss. How do you feel shortly before the finish line?
Katharina Nocun: Someone from my party once said, 'Elections are for candidates as if you're learning to drop out for an important exam, but the exam itself is being written by someone else.' I am very happy to be part of a movement that positively shapes the digital revolution without fear of it. Although of course I'm looking forward to the election night, I'm primarily happy that this little party, which was founded seven years ago in a Berlin hackerspace on Sunday has real chances to shake up the Bundestag.
The poll numbers of the pirates, however, are in the basement. Do you still have hope that you can crack the 5 percent hurdle?
A good third of voters are still undecided. I think not a few people will give us their second vote because they want a reform of the retracted political system and an uncompromising commitment to civil rights after the NSA scandal.
The pirates are notorious for their harsh handling of their own management personnel. Have you already had the baptism of fire in the form of a shitstorm?
No, after the first TV appearance I even got love letters (laughs). Of course I also get mails that are not so friendly. But most do not come from party members, but from other critical people. If they are reasonably constructive, I answer that as well. But I have not experienced a shitstorm yet.
Other pirates were less fortunate. They criticize that they are discriminated against as women in the party. How are you?
I think a lot has happened here. There were individual men who made inappropriate comments on social networks. But I did not have to react. Immediately, other pirates turned on and rebuked rioters. An awareness has emerged of how important respect and moral courage are. More people dare to defend others and prevent the escalation of discussions.
Do you feel like you have arrived in your new position?
In the beginning it was very exciting and unfamiliar. Shortly after the election, I had one press meeting after the other. Once there were 22 calls in 24 hours. At some point, one can only answer from the gut, which I find quite good. In the meantime, I feel like I've grown into the position. This is also because we had one of the issues currently on the agenda with the NSA scandal, which is why I joined the Pirate Party. I now have a chance to say to domestic affairs officials, who have been advocating a restriction of civil rights in recent years, what I think about it. Namely that here the future of a whole generation is lost. I find that fun.
For the fact that the NSA scandal is such a steep template for the pirates, you get from little with you. Where was the outcry?
A lot has already happened. There were demonstrations, at the end of July about a nationwide demo in which the Pirate Party has participated. We filed lawsuits and organized encryption parties nationwide. We have started petitions and are currently preparing further actions. There is a seething party, and there is a lot of energy. Since it has become clear that the secret service agreements have been signed by SPD representatives, it has unfortunately become very quiet on the subject. All governments that have been in power since 2001 have reduced civil rights.
What do you demand from the government regarding Prism, the surveillance program of the NSA?
That she puts the facts on the table and ends the game of hide and seek. It can not be that after Salamitaktik comes out only piece by piece, who knew what. We also need whistleblower protection and a committee of inquiry at EU level. This type of surveillance must be strictly prohibited and any cooperation with US services should be discontinued.
And what do you think about Angela Merkel calling the internet "new territory" recently?
I have followed closely the Union's policy and seen how many times the freedom of the network has interfered with fundamental rights. I think you know exactly what you're doing. Of course it is convenient to say that you did not know that well. But the internet is only a medium. Actually, it's about saving the Basic Law into the digital age. That Angela Merkel is not committed to the Basic Law is bitter.
How do politicians of the established parties react to you? Do you feel taken seriously?
The feeling of not being taken for full, I know well from my time in the civil rights movement. I was often at conventions at the beginning of 20 to represent the organizations. And especially the male, older politicians have treated me as a young woman from the top down. This is still going on and off today. Since you have to bite through and make it clear that you already have brains. Here we need a change in politics. Everyone wants more young people to get involved in the parties. Then you have to take them seriously.
Newcomers also stand out because they do not yet master the current code of conduct. Have you already adapted?
I have thought a lot about how I want to act outward. My conclusion: I was chosen because I am the way I am. So I do not pretend. I'm not the guy who always struggles, I still wear pants and hoodies. Also, I do not want to change my language, because of the politician's phrases, many people are annoyed. The added value of the pirates is just that they are not so adapted and sometimes demand clear statements from the established politicians.
But clear statements are not exactly the specialty of pirates. Critics miss your party a clear line of content.
The Pirate Party has focused on two key areas when it was founded: civil rights and copyright. In these areas, we make quite clear statements, and indeed much clearer than the established parties do. From these emphases, we then slowly grew thematically in breadth. I think it's perfectly fine when a party says: we're still working on that. Politics is a process, and election programs show our interim balance on which to build.
