WikiLeaks Party in crisis over lack of transparency and support for far-right politicians

Julian Assange on Thursday took responsibility for the resignation of a key candidate from his WikiLeaks Party running in Australian elections, blaming his focus on Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning.

The fledgling party is in crisis after its number two candidate for the Australian Senate behind Assange, ethicist Leslie Cannold, said she was disillusioned with its lack of transparency and accountability and quit Wednesday.

She would have likely taken the WikiLeaks founder’s place in the upper house in the event the party was successful in the September 7 polls and Assange was unable to return to Australia, his home country.

Other members of the party, which has vowed to closely scrutinise any government in power, have also walked away, including four of its 11 governing National Council representatives.