Free the goldfish

SHOULD goldfish have a voice in parliament? Marianne Thieme, leader of the Dutch Party for the Animals (PvdD) thinks so. Ever since the party won two seats in parliament in 2006, its members have been busy, asking more written questions than most and tabling motions on topics from biotech to halal slaughter to the life of goldfish.

The party’s success has inspired others. There are animal-rights parties in 14 countries, mostly in Europe. Friends of animals around the world recently met in Istanbul, home to one recent addition, Hayvan Partisi, the Turkish animal party. The aim of the conference was to strengthen networks and share best practice so as to improve the political representation of animal-rights parties.

The PvdD is the first of its kind to be elected to a national parliament. Its successes have included a national ban on round goldfish bowls (too stressful), tougher rules for animal transport in Europe and securing €6m ($8m) of public money to search for alternatives to meat. Their goal is to move away from human-centred thinking and create a society that treats animals with respect. Ms Thieme sees her party as a path-breaker that can encourage everybody to take a more benevolent stance towards animals and the environment. But in today’s economic climate, it is not always easy to gain support.

The biggest source of influence for small parties like the PvdD is the ability to steer the agenda of more mainstream parties. As the party takes votes from across the political spectrum, others now include provisions on animal welfare in their manifestos. Even Geert Wilders’ anti-everything PVV is fighting for “animal cops”—police officers specially trained to fight against animal cruelty.

One victory came in 2011, when a huge majority of the Dutch parliament agreed with the PvdD to outlaw the slaughter of animals without stunning, as often happens in halal and kosher butchers. In a rare coalition, Muslim and Jewish leaders joined forces to claim that their religious rights were cast aside for those of animals. The animals won.