The bickering continues: the National Council maintains the voting age of 16

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The bickering over the voting age of 16 in the National Council seems to go on endlessly. The Grand Chamber has already voted twice on the cut – and twice a narrow majority has voted in favour. But the State Political Committee of the National Council (SPK-N) refused to draft a constitutional amendment. On Monday, the Grand Chamber voted in favor again.

The decision was extremely close, by a vote of 98 to 93. The SP, the Greens, the GLP and part of the center voted in favor of lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, while the other part of the center and the FDP and SVP voted against.

The SPK-N should now set up a template. The deal goes back to a parliamentary initiative by Green National Councilor Sibel Arslan (42), who wanted to give 16-year-olds active but not passive voting rights.

Political engagement increased significantly

The political engagement of young people has increased considerably, Arslan justified her initiative. In addition, they are often the ones affected by current political decisions, such as a climate law or the organization of old-age provision. It is therefore important that young people can have a say in what their future looks like, parliamentary colleague Irène Kälin (36), who is also campaigning for the initiative, said in the National Council on Monday.

The bourgeois majority in the SPK-N considers it a waste of time to brainstorm a proposal if they know from the outset that the matter will ultimately be rejected in a referendum. They refer to several cantonal attempts to introduce the voting age of 16, which failed. Only in Glarus can 16 and 17 year olds vote and vote. In addition, a majority of the cantons spoke against it during the consultations.

charge of refusal to work

The Commission’s attitude has sparked outrage among supporters of the 16-year-old voting age. This is a refusal to work, according to Green National Councilor Arslan’s charge. Even the discussion about lowering the voting age is important to the proponents – even if it would ultimately not take place.

Opponents of the cut argued that there was no point in creating a category of citizens who could vote but not get elected. Moreover, setting the voting age at 16 would be purely arbitrary from the point of view of the FDP and the SVP, explained SVP national councilor Barbara Steinemann (46) and FDP councilor Andri Silberschmidt (29).

The middle was divided. It is not appropriate to distinguish between political and civil age of consent, said Marianne Binder (64). EVP colleague Marc Jost, 49, who campaigned for the initiative, responded that 16-year-olds are religiously and sexually mature, may have to pay taxes and support decisions. But they can’t vote, that’s not right. (lha/dba/SDA)

Source:Blick