Sweden’s Pirate Party has won a seat in the European Parliament in Brussels as a result of elections held Sunday throughout Europe.

The Pirate Party received approximately 7 percent of Sweden’s popular vote to secure one, and as many as two of the 18 seats Sweden holds within the parliament.

Pirate Party leader, founder, and parliamentarian elect Rick Falkvinge stayed strong to the party message after the results of the election were revealed.

“Citizens have understood that it’s time to pull the fist out of the pocket and that you can make a difference,” he said. “We don’t accept to be bugged by the government. People start to understand that the government is not always good.”

The Pirate Party was founded in 2006 amidst growing concerns that the Swedish government was increasingly succumbing to lobbying done by foreign copyright conglomerates. The party has since grown exponentially with flashpoint events like The Pirate Bay lawsuit which triggered a massive inrush of registered supporters.

The party’s focus on copyright law resonates with Europeans, particularly Swedes, who take a more liberal approach to fair use and copyright than officials in countries like the United States. The Pirate Party vows “to fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system, and ensure that citizens’ rights to privacy are respected.”

Sunday’s elections attracted 43.8 percent of Europe’s eligible voters and made the Pirate Party Sweden’s fifth largest national party.