Let’s advocate together for Free Software in the European Elections
European citizens will hit the ballot boxes from 6 to 9 June 2024 to
choose their next representatives in the European Parliament. As the
campaign heats up, it is important to get active and ensure Software
Freedom is part of the larger political debate. How can you do this?
Find practical advice on how to advocate for Free Software in the coming
months!
Every five years, European citizens elect their representatives to the
European Parliament, the EU's sole directly elected institution. These
representatives shape new EU legislation and how taxpayers' money is
spent. The electoral campaign has started and candidates across Europe
are organising and taking part in different events to listen to
citizens’ demands. Electoral programs are often written during these
events, together with your input. Get active and ask your candidates
their stance on Free Software (also known as Open Source).
Get to know your candidates and their events
Identifying your local EU candidates is the first step to starting the
debate. You can search political parties’ and institutional websites to
find the candidates running for election in your area. If elected, they
are the ones who represent you based on your area of residence and have
more direct contact with their constituents. In the run-up to the
elections, round-table discussions, election booths and debates with
candidates will be held. To find those, do not forget to check the
candidates’ social network accounts, too.
Additionally, seek recommendations from local Free Software advocacy
groups or communities, as they might take part in or organise meetings
related to the European elections.
Talk to your candidates
Once you found a way to talk to your candidates, you can kick off the
conversation starting with the basics. If
you cannot find any event around your area, you can directly ask for a
meeting with the candidates, or you can propose local groups and
communities to organise one! Ask candidates if they know what Free Software is and tell them why it is
important for a democratic society. If you cannot go to an event or
meet the candidate in person, you can also write an email to your local
candidate and ask their position on Free Software.
Free Software is an important topic when it comes to public
administrations. You can use the following arguments to explain why:
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Free Software, thanks to the four freedoms, allows public
administrations to take control of their digital infrastructure. Using
Free Software in public administrations is a prerequisite for becoming
digitally sovereign and crucial for a resilient digital society,
especially in times of crisis.
-
Free Software licenses help public administrations to escape dependency
and vendor lock-in, which at a high cost hinders competition and
innovation.
-
Free Software ensures that the source code is accessible so that
security holes can be fixed without depending on one service provider.
Mention the FSFE’s “Public Money?
Public Code!” initiative and ask the candidates a position on the
topic. Make their answers public to help other people in the EU
understand the candidates’ positions on Free Software.
You can also find informative
material on Free Software, “Public Money? Public Code!” and other
relevant topics on our website. All the material can be printed or
requested for free through our request form. This material can be
useful to get a basic and simple understanding of Free Software and can
be easily shared. Make use of it!
Find more advice, a mail template and a toot template in this new page on how to
get active during electoral campaigns!
Be active on social media
Do you want to use social media platforms to amplify your message and
engage a wider audience? Share informative content about Free Software,
emphasise the importance of open standards, and advocate for policies
prioritising digital freedoms. Use hashtags like #publiccode to join
discussions and encourage others to do the same, pointing out Free
Software's significance for shaping our democratic society in the
digital age.
Moreover, you can use our share-pic generator and share
why you support our “Public Money? Public Code!” campaign. Post your
share-pic on social media and encourage others to do the same.
You can also follow us on social media and contribute to spreading the
word during these crucial months that will shape Europe for the next
years.
Help us continue our work
Our team and volunteers are working daily with decision-makers,
advocating for Free Software on all levels. Your support enables us to
continue our work, protecting our community and engaging with
legislators to shape policies that uphold Free Software principles.
Please consider becoming an FSFE supporter and making a donation. Thank
you!
Become a supporter!
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