Politics is open to everyone, and it’s not about the main parties. Since elections began, some bizarre organizations have stood for office, riding on a wide range of tickets.
Some aim to make a serious point, while others get involved in the publicity of elections. In the age of social media, some party leaders have become stars in their own right. There are various political parties worldwide, each promising weird benefits for anyone getting behind them.
1. The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party slogan is “vote for insanity,” and that tells us all we need to know about this organization. Established in 1982 by the musician David “Screaming Lord” Sutch, the party was once led by a cat but is now run by Alan “Howling Laud” Hope.
The Loonies have previously suggested policies that have become law, including their Passports for Pets pledge. However,their promises, such as marking road potholes with a yellow plastic duck, are mostly ridiculous.
2. Readjuster Party
Some fringe parties arrive with a serious message, which was the case withthe Readjusters. Formed in Virginia in 1877, their primary goal was to tackle the severe debt the State had built up following the Reconstruction era.
The Readjuster Party was a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. During its brief existence, it made an impact on state politics. It helped abolish the poll tax and public whipping post, but the party disbanded in 1895.
3. Polish Beer Lovers Party
While their name suggests they were messing around, the Polish Beer Lovers eventually became a serious political party. The organization began in 1990 to establish a new drinking culture in English-style pubs across Poland.
The aim behind that message was to tackle national alcoholism. Once the legitimate pledges were recognized, the party stood on subjects such as tax reform and green issues. The Polish Beer Lovers Partywon 16 seats in the national Sejm in 1991, but they split into factions and disbanded two years later.
4. Youth International Party
The electoral system in the United States occasionally allows a joke party to stand, which was the case in the groovy 1960s. A group of young anarchists calling themselves the Youth International Party with the main aim of challenging authority.
Widely known as “Yippies,” the organization was primarilya protest movementwithout fundamental policies. Stunts included covering Wall Street in confetti, and the party chose a pig named Pigasus the Immortal to stand in the 1968 election race.
5. Gremloids Party
The leader of the Gremloids Party was Lord Buckethead, who stood against prominent UK politicians in national elections. He resembled Darth Vader but with a distinctive black bucket on his head.
The Gremloids planned to offer free bicycles to all UK residents while nationalizing the singer Adele. Today,a copyright disputemeans that the creator of Lord Buckethead, comedian Jon Harvey, now stands in elections as Count Binface.
6. Air, Road, Public Safety
The UK has the highest density of frivolous political parties. This nation is full of eccentrics, so it’s no surprise theyare representedon election day. One of the most prolific candidates was Bill Boaks, a former naval officer who switched to campaigning for public safety.
Boaks would attempt to begin political rallies on his bicycle and, later in his career, began to bring private prosecutions against people he believed had caused road accidents. Ironically, Bill Boaksdied in 1986due to injuries sustained after hewas run overwhile getting off a bus.
7. Church of the Militant Elvis Party
The Church of the Militant Elvis Party was purely a nonsense UK political organization with no real message. Its leader was David Bishop, who first entered politics as a character named “Lord Byro,” who stood against the Conservatives as Lord Byro versus the Scallywag Tories.
Under the Church of the Militant Elvis ticket, Bishop’s policies included a plan to travel to Antarctica and tell the icebergs to stop melting. He also intended to mount a campaign to have U2 singer Bono installed as the next Pope.
8. Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party
Unlike many other parties on this list, the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Partycontinues to contest seatsin its region. Formed in 2006, the organization fights on bizarre pledges such as free beer, eternal life, and the unlikely promise of two sunsets a day.
It’s another party heavily involved in peaceful protests. Street art and graffiti criticizing national policy appear around Hungary, often featuring the cartoon dog that bears their name.
9. Free Soil Party
Formed in 1848, the Free Soil Party fought on issues of abolition. As the fledgling United States began to develop, it aimed to provide “Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men.”
You may not have heard of them, but one of the party members was Martin Van Buren, the formerPresident of the United States. The Free Soilers made a great impression on the political landscape, and many of their aims became law before they merged with the Republicans.
10. Good Humor Party
They may be a joke political organization, but many of us would like to see theGood Humor Partyrule the world one day. Formed in Poland in 2001, they claim their sole purpose is to “make people happy.”
Polish satirist Szczepan Sadurski leads a party with 3000 global members. The membership fee is “Three Wide Smiles a Day,” which we could all use in these uncertain times.
11. Constitution Party
In contrast to the Good Humor Party, the Constitutionalists in the United States is a deadly serious organization. They split from the Republicans in 1990 and were initially known as the U.S. Taxpayers’ Party.
The Constitution Party sits on the right of U.S. politics and aims to give America a third choice. The organization has enjoyed some success on a local level, but returns in national elections could be better.
12. Canadian Extreme Wrestling Party
When the leader of a political partyis chosenin a wrestling contest, you know you’re in for a weird ride. Julian Barboni claimed the Battle Royale and headed the Canadian Extreme Wrestling Party from its inception in 1999.
The CEWP was rooted in ridiculousness, but the party campaigned on serious issues. These crazy Canadians wanted more sports funding,particularly for wrestling, while debating concerns such as overfishing and a guaranteed national income.
13. American Vegetarian Party
In the future, we will likely see more political organizations fighting for a vegetarian ticket. The American Vegetarian Party isn’t just about following a plant-based diet. Climate change is a serious global issue, and one of the concernscenters around intensive animal farming.
The original American Vegetarian Party was formed in 1947 and disbanded in the 1960s, but a more recent organization took up the challenge, using the same name as 2004.
14. New Millenium Bean Party
The leader of the New Millennium Bean Party is a colorful character who goes by the name of Captain Beany. He is arguably the biggest fan of baked beans in the world, and when he isn’t campaigning politically, he runs the Baked Bead Museum of Excellence in Port Talbot, Wales.
Captain Beany recently stood in the2021 Welsh Electionswhen he produced his political manifesto on toilet paper.
