54% of voters are people between the ages of 18 and 39 in our country. They are around 2.6 million people. Taking into account that, in the last elections, the ANR won with 1.2 million over 1.1 million from the opposition block, it means that the decision-making power is held by the young people in our country, however, they do not use it.
Father Héctor Fariña affirms that absenteeism is a manifestation of indignation, anger and hopelessness towards the political class. He regretted that we live in a country immersed in corruption but it is a minority that fights against it.
“In 2018, 1.6 million absented to vote, among them, some 900,000 were young people between 18 and 29 years old. That is, those born in a democracy and it is dramatic because those born in a democracy are not interested in democracy. That is very serious, even dramatic, that young people are not interested since they are necessary to achieve changes, ”he said.
Fariña, 39, affirms that he listens to beautiful speeches from politicians, including journalists, to encourage the participation of young people, but “their tongues will bleed”, inviting them but they will continue not to attend.
“The only tool that will achieve mass participation is compulsory voting and compulsory voting is enshrined in the National Constitution, in article 118, and in the Electoral Code, in articles 1, 4, 94 and 332. We have all the constitutional, legal tools for that to be applied. The TSJE is the enforcement body for this to be fulfilled, ”he stated.
ENCISO
Federico Enciso, ex-candidate for the PLRA, pointed out that among young people, the group that participates the least is between 18 and 25 years of age, since the level increases from 26 years of age.
“It has to do with our educational system, it does not instill citizen participation. That generates indifference about what happens in the country. I believe that the messages of the leaders should be aimed at the young population. The continuation project of the Colorado Party always benefits from low participation because that results in the continuation of the old practices of corruption and so on. They promote this apathy among the youth, that there is no way out, that there is no alternative, we must first of all reduce this apathy with messages of interest to these young people”, he affirmed.
SANCHEZ
Ygnacio Sánchez, former candidate for deputy for the ANR, regretted that statistics reflect reality, which is why there is an imperative need for youth to participate in the electoral elections. Since the youth ends up being the majority, and with their participation important changes are generated.
“To motivate them, the mechanism would be for the political actors on duty to comply with what their campaign proposals were at the time. The youth think that why are they going to vote for a political actor, that is where apathy is generated. By not seeing the fulfillment of political promises reflected, they reject him to participate in the elections, ”he said.
In 2008, the ANR obtained 920,000 votes between two candidates (Blanca Ovelar and Lino César Oviedo). In 2013, the ANR obtained 1.1 million votes, in 2018, it obtained 1.2 million, thus expects a similar amount for these elections. Young people alone double that amount.
