Ancilla van de Leest leaves position at Pirate Party

Ancilla van de Leest has announced that she has resigned from her position as leader of the Pirate Party. She passively joins the party, but promises to remain available as an advisor to her former colleagues.

In her statement, Van de Leest states that she sees the position as party leader as a heavy responsibility, for which she can no longer give the time and attention that is required for this. With her departure, she wants to make room for a “worthy successor who can hold this honorable leadership position”.

In 2014, Van de Leest, who then used the surname Tilia due to previous work as a model, became a member of the Pirate Party. During this year’s parliamentary elections, she was the party leader, but the party failed to gain any seats. It is not known whether the results of the elections have anything to do with the resignation. The party has not yet announced who will take over her position.

The 31-year-old privacy activist indicates that she will remain active as a writer and speaker in the fight for a free digital society. She will also remain available as an advisor to her former Pirate Party colleagues.