Marina Weisband
Marina Weisband (born 4 October 1987 in Kiev) is a German-Jewish politician. From May 2011 until April 2012 she was Politische Geschäftsführerin ("Political Director") of the Pirate Party Germany.
Life and career
Weisband was born and raised in Kiev to a Jewish family. In 1994, she and her family moved to Wuppertal in Germany as Kontingentflüchtlinge (literally "Quota refugees"—these are foreigners admitted to Germany on humanitarian or compassionate grounds. Most Kontingentflüchtlinge from the former Soviet Union are Jewish.) She finished school in 2006 and studies psychology at the University of Münster. Currently, she is working on her diploma thesis. Weisband describes herself as a devout Jew and lives with her partner in Münster.
Weisband joined the German Pirate Party in 2009. The Pirate Party won its first seats in a regional election in Berlin on 18 September 2011, gaining around 9% of the vote.
In April 2012, with support from other senior Pirate Party figures, she called on members of her party to tackle antisemitism and right wing extremism within their own ranks. Der Spiegel suggested that the Pirate Party needed to dispel a perception that it was a sympathetic environment for radical extremists. Shortly afterwards Weisband announced she would not be seeking re-election next month, citing the need to focus on studying for her degree. She did not rule out a return to politics after graduating.[1][2]
Weisband is the Pirate Party's most recognised face, appealing particularly to younger voters with her "laid-back style". Her hobbies are drawing, painting, tango dancing and roleplaying games.[2]
Sources
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This article was abridged and translated from its equivalent in the German Wikipedia on 13 January 2012.
- Hank Pelissier: Pirate Party captures big victory in Berlin, Germany!, interview with Marina Weisband, 29 September 2011, retrieved 13 January 2012.
- Eine, die alle lieben, taz.de, retrieved 13 January 2012. (German)
- ↑ "Unsere Ideen versinken in Müll und Dreck" ("Our ideas are drowning in garbage and filth"), Der Spiegel online, 20 April 2012, retrieved 22 April 2012. (German)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Marina Weisband, Student and Politician, Deutsche Welle, 24 April 2012, retrieved 30 April 2012.
