POLL: Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Much discussed around Europe over the past decade, Spain is now considering changing the law on the voting age, something Austria did in 2008.
Parliament has agreed to put the wheels in motion for 16- and 17-year-olds to be able to vote after a motion by the Catalunya Left Republicans (ERC) was approved by all bar the right-wing PP, centre-right Ciudadanos and the Basque nationalists PNV.
ERC recalled, in the motion, that youngsters aged 16 can legally marry, work, pay taxes, have consenting sexual relations and give their permission for medical treatment, including - despite the PP's efforts to the contrary - abortions.
But they are unable to decide who gets into power to spend the taxes they pay or alter the conditions through which they are employed, ERC pointed out.
In a State where 16-year-olds can be held criminally, civilly and fiscally liable, they cannot be denied the right to vote, says ERC spokesman Gabriel Rufián.
The socialists (PSOE), Podemos and the non-affiliated MPs all voted in favour - 174 in total - compared with 144 votes against and six who abstained, giving the motion a majority approval.
What do you think? Are 16-year-olds ready to vote?
1
Like
Published at 8:26 PM Comments (7)