The concept of European integration was not correctly understood by all young people in the Republic of Moldova during the constitutional referendum and last fall's presidential elections. The statement was made by Alexandr Petrov, director of the National Agency for the Development of Youth Programmes and Activities (ANT), during a public debate at IPN on the theme "The role of young people and youth organizations in the process of European integration".
According to Petrov, there are cases where young people did not perceive the difference between elections and referendums or even did not understand what plebiscites are about. In addition, he said, "young people are not a homogenous mass" and they need to be properly educated about electoral processes from adolescence, between the ages of 14 and 35.
Aleksandr Petrov referred to parents whose children are not yet entitled to vote, to explain to them how an election works and to take their children to the polls, so that they understand from an early age the importance of elections for society.
The 18-24 age group is vulnerable, emphasizes the director of ANT, who points out that "young people at this age are more emotional and open to populist messages", and therefore urges parents to communicate openly with their children.
On the other hand, Aleksandr Petrov points out that young people are those who "bring professional air into the local and central administration of a state, and have an important role in the strategic exercise of European integration of our country". In this sense, the leader of ANT concretized that, after each election, the number of young deputies, ministers, mayors and councillors increases.
"Young people have a dual responsibility to get involved in national decision-making projects. Young people don't go out to vote because they don't have this habit, it's not part of their tradition," Petrov explains, adding that this has nothing to do with young people's political ideologies. However, even if they are a category that does not present themselves in an exemplary way at the polls, their presence in the 2021 parliamentary elections had a decisive impact, the ANT leader noted.
The public debate on "The role of young people and youth organizations in the process of European integration" is organized within the project "IPN News Agency for social cohesion and pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.
