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.
MP for ERC, María González Veracruz, pointed out that the arguments against teens of 16 and 17 voting - such as 'immaturity' and 'childishness', and the fact they are dependent, largely, on their parents or adult guardians - are the very ones that were used against women having the vote decades ago.
Podemos' MP Jaume Moya called for an end to the 'stereotypes' of 16-year-olds being 'likely to be influenced by propaganda or their parents' political preferences', and stressed that today's youth are 'much more aware' of current affairs, something they make patent in street protests and by 'building their culture of indignation'.
The PP was against the move, saying there was not enough time to make it workable within the current legislature, whilst Ciudadanos - albeit in favour of an electoral reform - said that within the European Union, Austria was the only country which allowed under-18s to vote.
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