Wikileaks launches political party in Australia
QMI AGENCY
FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013 09:15 PM EDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013 09:22 PM EDT
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of Ecuador's Embassy, in central London on December 20, 2012. (REUTERS/Luke MacGregor)
Australians could soon have a new political party - the Wikileaks Party - if Julian Assange's bid for official electoral status can enlist 500 members.
"Australian WikiLeaks Party now open for membership," the group tweeted Saturday with a link to its new website.
Assange, the enigmatic founder of the information-sharing collective, is wanted in Sweden to answer to sexual assault allegations. He remains in London, holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy, after that country granted him asylum.
Assange has previously expressed his interest in running for the senate in his native Australia.
His party's constitution, posted on the site, lists objectives including "the protection of human rights and freedoms; transparency of governmental and corporate action, policy and information."
Assange's steadfast support for the free flow of information does not extend to would-be party members, who will have to hand over $20 to sign up.
The party needs 500 members to be registered with the Australian Electoral Commission.
