Dotcom's party passes threshold

Kim Dotcom says at least one sitting MP has signed up as a member of his new party, but he won't...
Kim Dotcom says at least one sitting MP has signed up as a member of his new party, but he won't say who. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Kim Dotcom's Internet Party has attracted 600 members just over 12 hours after launching.

Shortly after 9am this morning, party spokesman John Mitchell confirmed the party had passed the 500-member mark.

A party needs 500 paying members to be registered and Mr Mitchell said that mark was hit about seven hours after the online membership process opened at 7pm yesterday.

"We have gone through the 500 mark which is a really fantastic result for us."

Mr Mitchell stressed that people who have signed up still needed to be cleared as eligible by the Electoral Commission.

The party was launched yesterday at Dotcom's Coatesville mansion in rural Auckland and has released some high level policy. Apart from the previously indicated emphasis on cheaper faster internet, the party also wants to see the introduction of a government sponsored digital currency.

Party chief executive Vikram Kumar said the party wanted to see a fundamental change in New Zealand's intelligence and surveillance regime, including a withdrawal from the US led "five eyes" intelligence sharing network.

Because he is not a New Zealand citizen, Mr Dotcom cannot stand as a candidate in his own party. He is also facing a bid to extradite him by US authorities to face copyright, money laundering and racketeering charges.

 

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