In a post on its Facebook page, the PID stated there had been discussions about a merger of the two parties, and that common electoral lists would be presented both for this year’s European Parliament elections, as well as the 2018 national elections. 

The proceedings, they added, had been “chaotic”, with communication having been “broken for months”, and the PID hadn’t been included in the process for Sunday’s elections. 

The PID concluded the post by stating that even “after the negative experiences” with the Pirates, it would remain independent but open to cooperation with others. 

Although members of the PID committee are to be re-elected over the coming weeks, Marie-Paule Dondelinger, who was elected co-chair of the Pirates earlier this year, is no longer a member of the party.

The PID, originally founded by ex-ADR member Jean Colombera, added it had waited until after the European Parliament elections to make the announcement in order to not disrupt the Pirates' campaign.