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Germany: Left-of-center parties call for lowering voting age to 16.

Three of Germany’s main political parties have called for the federal voting age to be lowered from 18 to 16. According to a recent study out of Berlin, there are few arguments against the idea.

Fifty years after Germany lowered the voting age for federal elections from 21 to 18 years old, some politicians are calling for the age to be dropped once again.

"I am convinced that young people at 16 are very capable of making a responsible choice," German Family Minister Franziska Giffey told news agency dpa in Berlin on Thursday. "We should give them this opportunity."

Left flank broadly in favor

The idea has found support with the leadership of Giffey's own Social Democrats (SPD) as well as the leaders of Germany's Green Party and the left-wing die Linke Party.

SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken said that her party wants the voting age lowered to 16 for all local, state, federal, and European elections in Germany.

"We must give young people the opportunity to participate and help shape the future," Sasken said.

"We live in a time where the maturity of the young generation begins much earlier. It would be nice if the legislature could see that and follow suit," Green Party leader Robert Habeck said.

"Sixteen-year-olds are no less interested and informed than 18-year-olds, said die Linke party leader Katja Kipping. "It is high time to let young people aged 16 and over have a say."

Right flank broadly reticent

But Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance opposes the move.

"It has proven to be a good idea linking voting rights and the age of majority," CSU Secretary-General Markus Blume told dpa.

In Germany, full criminal responsibility, possession of a driver's license and other rights and obligations are linked to the age of majority, which is 18.

"This is also the correct standard for the right to vote, the supreme right in a democracy," Blume said.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-left-of-center-parties-call-for-lowering-voting-age-to-16/a-54386152

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