Now that the political euphoria over giving the vote to 16-year-olds is over, it is time to consider how this can be put into practice. This newspaper has already argued in favour of some form of political formation to help youngsters become aware of the basic, fundamental institutions that make up the country’s democracy.

One thing for sure is that the example set by the elders is not impressive at all. This country has turned politics into a market square, with political patronage rampant to the extent that it is suffocating. Drawing young people into the fray is certainly not an encouraging move and the impression is that the major political parties are gearing to exploit the situation for their ends.

Clearly, 16-year-olds are generally not interested in politics and it is doubtful that giving them the vote will get them enthused. The suffocating partisanship that has permeated all sectors and all levels of society is something that is repulsed by the rebellious idealism of youth.

There are strong arguments to be made why our youth should not be drawn into a wholly corrupt political mentality at such an early age. But that does not stop them from entering the system two years later. Now that the vote of 16-year-olds has been approved unanimously by the House of Representatives, we should see how to make the best out of it.

The warning sounds came recently from the University Students’ Council (KSU), which one would expect to have embraced the idea wholeheartedly, but they did not. In a way, they showed more maturity than their elderly stock.

Drawing on the experiences of other countries, the KSU made very strong arguments in favour of civic education and critical thinking. Their proposals turn the situation into an opportunity for the country to come undone from the shackles of infantile politics and patronage. But who will bring about this cultural change?

Surely not the government, which, like other administrations before it, applies a paternalistic governing policy that makes walking into a polling booth a choice for personal gain not the collective good. This government, more than others, has refined political patronage to the point that it has made it an art, or a dark art.

How will our youths avoid falling into the suffocating abyss that politics has become?

The Speaker of the House of Representatives called the unanimous constitutional amendment a historic move. Not all historic events are something to be proud of. The Prime Minister says the next electoral campaign will be more idealistic, presumably because political parties will have to tackle new issues. It is easy to guess where this is going.

Once school-leavers are deemed mature enough to decide who runs the country, what else that is prohibited by law to youngsters will now have to go? Political programmes will be replete with promises to lower the bar, to cater for a voting class that is distinctly different because the rest are adult and they are youths.

Youths will be ripe for the picking come the next election. Generation 16 will be different because they are youths. Once they were rebels, now they will be just voters. A well-informed youth could change the face of politics in this country but everything seems to point the other way and they are not to blame.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial

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