Editorial

Well, should they be given the vote? Opposition leader Joseph Muscat thinks so and the Labour party is working on proposals concerning local council reform to include the recommendation that 16-year-olds be given the right to vote. Dr Muscat is of the opinion that this inclusion "will lead to less partisan and more sensible policies". Maybe; but he has provided no evidence for this. The opposite is at least, if not more of, a probability.

The idea was first floated last February by Alternattiva Demokratika and taken up a month later by the Nationalist Party's Youth Movement (MŻPN). Now we will have to wait until the period of dialogue initiated by the government for the reform of local councils runs its course and its substance kneaded into a legislative act to improve and upgrade the operations and responsibilities of subsidiary government.

Whether reducing the voting age will bring about the democratic benefits being assumed is a matter for argumentation. We would, at this stage, posit one argument we deem to be of some considerable significance to the future of youngsters who would opt to go down this road - should it be opened to them: Does one want, is it beneficial for, 16-year-olds to be directly involved in local elections - knocking on doors to campaign for votes, spending a great deal of time on a process that will inevitably impinge on their education at what ought to be a critical period in their lives? Commitment and dedication to any such process presumes that personal "electioneering" will have to start when the potential candidate is much younger than 16.

At a stage in Malta's development where we all agree that higher education needs to be given priority over much else, it would be disturbing, at least, to take our students' eyes off the ball at a moment when their concentration should be wholly given over to their future career - either through the university or Mcast mill or, indeed, through sixth form and serious preparation for a job in private enterprise. We repeat, the age is too critical in terms of personal development for those who belong to it to be channelled away from First Things.

This is probably the reason why the overwhelming majority of countries does not subscribe to the idea of promoting what is, in effect, a political "profession" at a time when these youngsters are in the delicate process of determining their future. If we are to have politicians, let us do all we can to make sure that they will be, before all else, educated ones.

Nor is there much evidence to suggest that bringing down the voting age will "strengthen democracy". Democracy is strengthened by the disavowal of all that hinders it, like inflammatory speeches to intimidate a government, by a commitment to selfless political service, by debate and discussion that are aimed at raising the standard of political discourse, by a sense of respect members should extend to one another in Parliament, by a total dedication to law and order, by a mature approach to differences of opinion and an even more mature recognition of the national interest on the part of both government and opposition - and much more.

So, should they be given the vote, even at the level of local elections? At this point we tend to think not, but it will be interesting to see how discussion on this topic will develop.