German 16-year-olds to cast first votes in EU elections – DW – 06/09/2024
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Berlin (CNN) — The recent European Parliamentary elections have introduced a significant shift in voter demographics, with 16 and 17-year-olds in Germany voting for the first time. This change has sparked concern, as many of these young voters have supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In the last European Union election, young people were vocal advocates for climate action, skipping school to demand serious policies. Their efforts contributed to a “Green wave,” with many young voters supporting environmentally focused parties.
However, this year’s elections tell a different story. The inclusion of 16 and 17-year-olds in the voting process has led to a surprising and unsettling outcome. Many of these new voters have shifted their support to the AfD, a party known for its extreme right-wing views. In the 2019 elections, a significant number of young Germans voted for the Greens. Fast forward five years, and now 16% of 16 to 24-year-olds have voted for the AfD, an 11-point increase from the previous election.
AfD’s Alarming Influence on Young Voters
The AfD’s appeal to young voters is concerning, given the party’s extremist views. The party’s members frequently use banned Nazi slogans and promote racism and Islamophobia. Despite the AfD’s controversial stance, it managed to garner almost as much of the youth vote as the leading Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance.
Exit polls indicate that migration was a key issue driving voters to the right. A staggering 95% of AfD voters support limiting the influx of foreigners and refugees into Germany. This hardline stance on immigration has resonated with many young voters, despite the AfD’s radical positions.
One particularly disturbing incident involved the AfD’s lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, who suggested that members of the Nazi SS were not automatically criminals. This statement led to his removal from the campaign trail, although he remained on the party’s slate for the EU parliament until further scandals led to his expulsion.
Broader European Trend Towards Nationalism
The trend seen in Germany is not isolated. Across Europe, in countries like Portugal, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France, young voters have increasingly supported nationalist and eurosceptic parties. This shift is partly attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the influence of social media platforms like TikTok, which the far-right has effectively utilized to spread its message.
Experts believe that the pandemic has left young people feeling insecure about the future, contributing to their disillusionment with traditional political solutions. The AfD has capitalized on this discontent, offering simplistic solutions to complex issues by focusing on migration and EU control.
This growing support for far-right parties among young voters is particularly troubling in Germany, where the horrors of the Nazi regime are a significant part of the educational curriculum. However, it is still too early to declare a permanent shift in the political landscape. Young voters are often impulsive and can be influenced by emotional and immediate concerns.
In conclusion, while the rise of far-right support among young voters is alarming, it highlights the need for constructive engagement and solutions to the issues that matter to them. It is crucial for democratic institutions to address these concerns effectively to prevent further radicalization.
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