Assange to run for Victorian Senate seat

He will contest September poll for the Australian Senate as the lead candidate of his newly formed WikiLeaks Party

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, currently holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, will contest September poll for the Australian Senate as the lead candidate of his newly formed WikiLeaks Party.

The 41-year-old hacker-turned activist's application for electoral enrolment in the state was received by Australian Electoral Commission here, the 'The Age' reported.

The application of Assange, an Australian national, was given by WikiLeaks supporters and his father John Shipton who has been active in the initial organisation of the party.

Shipton said Assange's enrolment was "a first step" in a political campaign that would focus on "the democratic requirement of truthfulness from government".

The party is not yet registered with Australian Electoral Commission and has an initial 10-member national council comprised of close associates of Assange and pro-WikiLeaks activists.  

The report said that its constitution highlights on the promotion of openness and transparency in government and business.

Assange has nominated his mother's home in Mentone, in the federal electorate of Isaacs, as his address for eligible enrolment before his most recent trip overseas in June 2010.

Assange has indicated that if elected and unable to return to Australia to take up a seat in the Senate, a WikiLeaks Party nominee would fill the vacancy.

The hacker-activist is trying to avoid extradition from Britain to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault in August 2010.

Assange fears that he may be sent to the US, if extradited to Sweden, and face charges punishable by death for publishing some 250,000 leaked American diplomatic cables.