European Elections 2024: Young People never had a chance
Political groups did not give young politicians under the age of 35 a chance to get elected in the recent European Elections. Despite young candidates’ offering fresh ideas and strengthening the connection with a new generation of voters, political parties continue to sideline them in their electoral lists.
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As a result the new European Parliament is just as old as in 2019, with the average MEP age being 50.
Further five countries (🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg and 🇷🇴 Romania) now have no young Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and eight have only one (🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇭🇺 Hungary and 🇱🇹 Lithuania).
This lack of prioritisation of young people raises the question: Why are young candidates consistently placed in positions with lower chances of being elected?
The European Youth Forum’s analysis of the electoral lists reveals a troubling trend: candidates under 35 are often relegated to positions with less than a 50% chance of securing a seat. Meanwhile, older candidates dominate the top electable spots, securing their seats with ease.
In countries like Greece, Italy, or the Netherlands, where voter preference majorly impacts who becomes an MEP, party’s support and resources also play a defining role on who ends up in Parliament, making it difficult to determine what an electable spot is. The situation is no different in the remaining 19 European countries, where parties decide on their own electoral lists. Under this system, being placed high on those lists - thus in an "electable position", determines who has the best chances of being elected.
Of the 19 countries analysed, four had no young candidates in likely electable positions - defined as having more than 40% chances of being elected.
Overall, young people comprise 25% of the European population, yet they hold only 10% of the seats in the European Parliament. Malta boasts the youngest delegation (median age 40.5), while Luxembourg has the oldest (median age of 62) marking more than 20 years gap between the median age of MEPs and that of the citizens (39.3).
A Parliament lacking young members is prone to struggle to maintain its legitimacy among younger voters, who are increasingly disillusioned with traditional political structures.
The biggest group in the European Parliament, the EPP, dedicated only 4.8% of its seats to young people and the second biggest group, the S&D, only 9.6%. It is striking that these two groups representing around 40% of the European Population and that have a long history, control over power and strong party mechanisms, also have the two lowest percentages of young MEPs, together with Patriots for Europe, well below in comparison to other Groups.
Boosting youth candidates enhances political diversity and demonstrates success with young voters. In France, 'La France Insoumise,' with 44% young MEPs, garnered the highest support from voters aged 18-24. Similarly, Italy's Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra (33% young MEPs) won a majority of student votes, securing their return to the hemicycle. Young people, like any group, have diverse preferences influenced by their country, gender, and socio-economic background. However, it is undeniable that promoting young candidates does not only bring expertise and innovative ideas, but also crucial connection with the youngest segment of the electorate - bridging the gap between the European Parliament and young voters.
Young people’s disenchantment is not just a symptom of political disillusionment, but also reflects systemic barriers that prevent them from voting. Addressing these barriers, through measures such as removing discrimination in the age of candidacy and lowering the voting age to 16, needs to be a priority for political parties.
The lack of young MEPs in the European Parliament is a significant and unacceptable gap, especially given the multiple crises disproportionately impacting younger generations. From economic instability and the rise of precarious work, to the housing crisis, young people face unique challenges that require dedicated representation and solutions.
Political groups and elected MEPs must ensure that they act as true representatives of youth and address the interests and challenges of young people. The next legislative term is crucial, with significant issues like the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) on the agenda. The MFF, essentially the EU’s long-term budget, allocates funding for key priorities of the Union such as, education, employment, and climate action, Erasmus+ and youth organisations - priorities that directly benefit people across Europe and strengthen our democracies.
Going forward, it is essential that young people’s voices are not only heard, but also heeded to support the future of a truly democratic and inclusive Europe.
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