“Towards a more inclusive democracy.” 33 Mayors sign this Thursday, April 17 in Ouster-France a platform that asks for “the reduction of the voting age at 16 in the municipal elections” this Thursday. The objective of this proposal: “Promote the right of minors to be heard and give them the means to protect their democratic interests.”
Among the signatories are the mayors of PS of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, Nantes, Johanna Rolland or Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol. But also the environmental councilors of Grenoble (Éric Piolle), Lyon (Grégory Doucet), Strasbourg (Jeanne Berseghian) …
Less than a year since the next municipal elections, the signatory mayors believe that the decrease in the electoral majority for local elections “would stimulate the interest of young people for public debate”, “will foster (R) electoral participation” and reduce “the risks of bad registration in the lists.” A measure that would be more favorable for the left, more popular among young people than among older people, at least in the last national elections.
Young people judged “capable of making informed decisions” for permission or work
“Authorized to work and subject to taxes, if necessary, free to request their emancipation, create or adhere to an association, conduct, recognize a child and exercise a complete parental authority, young people aged 16 to 18 are considered able to make informed decisions and demonstrate rational decision -making capabilities in many subjective ones,” the signatories of the gallery underline.
Elected officials also believe that the 16 -year vote for local elections would contribute to “a greater consideration of the interests of young generations in our public action.”
This proposal was presented in March by UNICEF President France, Adeline Hazan. UNICEF is also in the initiative of this forum in Ousest-France and launches a campaign on the subject this Thursday.
In Europe, the right to vote is established in 16 years for local elections in Estonia, Scotland, in Wales and in certain regions of Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. Austria and Malta lowered their majority 16 years for all elections. In France, this measure that has already been mentioned during electoral campaigns and legislators, without being adopted.
Source: BFM TV
