During a press conference held on Saturday, 9 September the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes Julia Farrugia Portelli, released a discussion paper for public consultation with the title "Vote 16+ Empowering Youth".   The seven page discussion paper includes also eight pertinent questions aimed to stimulate a national debate.      The "Vote 16+ Empowering Youth" discussion paper has the aim to explore the possibility and identify ways, if any, to give the right to 16+ the right to vote in the General and European Parliament elections.  

There are two sides of the same coin.  The decision to lower the voting age to 16 raises several issues that should not remain in abeyance but should be addressed adequately before any decision is taken.  These issues should be addressed thoroughly.    

In considering the case for extending the vote to 16 year olds, it is also important to study other norms in our society.  As a rule persons below the age of 18 years are denied the right to enter into contracts, marriage and administer a bank account without parental consent.  

Although 16 and 17 year olds can enter into the labour market however they receive a wage which is less than that offered to 18 year olds.  As a matter of fact the current minimum wage for 16 year olds is €160.14 while that for 17 year olds is €162.98 and for those 18 and over is €169.76.  Wages in the labour market are allowed to make this discrimination on the basis of age even though the performance of 16 year old is equal to those 18 and over. 

In the context of the debate on voting rights it is necessary to make a distinction between voting in elections and standing as a candidate.  While a case could be made to grant voting rights to 16 year olds, it is much harder to argue that they should also be permitted to stand as candidates or to represent the community in executive committees such as local councils or parliament.

Standing for elections requires a high degree of debating, networking skills and organisational aptitude in addition to exposure to pressures from a range of interests, including but not exclusive from constituents and large private companies/corporations.  These require a well-formed character.

But before I dig a bit deeper let me set four ground rules.  a) The consultation process should not be polluted with partisan politics.  b) The consultation process should allow ample space for diverging contributions. c) The evaluation should include both the pros and the cons. d) The consultation process should not be allowed to take a populist approach.     

Enough for the time being on the discussion paper "Vote 16+ Empowering Youth".

However, incidentally, in contrast with the press conference addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs. Farrugia Portelli; on Monday 11 September Pauline Miceli, Commissioner for Children counselled parents not to push their children into beauty and fashion contests. Mrs. Miceli cautioned "parents should let their children participate in activities which will benefit from them; fashion shows hardly serve any purpose, they only serve the interests of the producers".  Mrs. Miceli even expressed concern about the insistence, pressure and even futile piques by the parents which is not restricted only to beauty contests but is also found in song festivals and other competitions.  

But the most important point raised by Mrs. Miceli during her short interview on TVM was the following "parents should let children behave like children".  The overall thrust of Mrs. Miceli's counsel was that parents and society must let children enjoy their childhood.  Indeed, this point should be delved into and discussed further.  The shape of our society in future depends very much on the upbringing of the children.  It is the parents' responsibility to take full responsibility of their children but it is also the duty of society to assist parents in the upbringing of their children.

So, is competition a good, or a bad, thing?  Some argue that it encourages a child/teenager to excel in today's fiercely competitive world where we compete for everything.  Others say it can destroy self-esteem and lead to resentment.  In a competitive environment, a child/a teenager is told that it isn't enough to be good.  S/he must triumph over others.  But the more s/he competes, the more s/he needs to compete to enjoy the feel good factor.  But winning doesn't build character; it just lets a child/teenager to take pride for a defined period of time.  By definition, not everyone can win a contest of whatever nature.  If one child/teenager wins, another cannot.  Competition leads children to envy winners and in the worst case scenario, to dismiss losers.

Co-operation, on the other hand, is the matching key to future lifelong padlocks.  Helping children and adolescents to communicate effectively, to trust others and to accept those who are different from themselves would be of great benefit.  Children would feel better about themselves when they work with others instead of against them, and their self-esteem doesn't depend on winning a spelling test or a little "whatever" competition.

While infants have a very small world and in many occasions well-cared for and loved; similarly, like teenagers, although they trail in different paths and have different needs, aspirations, dreams, ambitions, concerns and fears they still should be allowed to enjoy and make best use of their teens.  Young adults and adolescents should not be pushed or enticed into tight corners.  Parents and society has an equal responsibility towards our teenagers.  They should be allowed to enjoy their teens.   While every effort should be made to rope to younger generation into public life great caution should be exercised during the implementation process.

 

Gejtu Vella

 

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