With only a few days until the elections, almost half of Brabant’s young people do not yet know who they will vote for. Four in ten of all Brabanders are also still unsure. It is striking that parties such as the PVV and the CDA appear to be less popular among young adults, according to figures from the Kieskompas. How come?
There is mainly doubt on the streets of Tilburg. A young woman still has doubts. “I still don’t know. I thought I would vote strategically last time, but I don’t think I should do that this year,” she says. “I’m going to come out and vote.”
A young man says he doesn’t know enough about politics yet. “I’m still floating a little bit. I’m going to go some more research doing. I think many people just don’t know enough about politics.” Another woman first wants to better understand what the parties stand for. “If I’m going to vote, I want to do so with full knowledge of the facts.”
Why do so many young people still have doubts? According to Marius Zuurbier of Young Professionals In Brabant, this is because the politics are too unclear. “There is no stable cabinet and it is not clear to young people which party will really solve problems in the long term,” he says. “They find themes such as housing, health, AI and climate important. It is not sufficiently clear which party will deal with this in a stable manner in the long term and really solve problems.”
According to him, young people especially want a stable government. “They see that there is a lot of arguing in politics. It is too little about the content and too much about mutual relationships. The real problems remain.” Zuurbier hears from many young people that they doubt whether their vote makes any difference at all. “We try to motivate them to vote. If you don’t vote, someone else will decide for you.”
“Young people are not there yet.”
Political scientist Marcel Boogers also sees that voters are making decisions later and later. “Parties used to have a steady following, but they have lost that. Voters decide from election to election.” According to him, young people need more time to find out what they want to vote for. “Young adults are not that far yet, they are orientating themselves on the voter market and still practicing their democratic citizenship. Before they know which party suits them best, they will have to spend quite a few years.”
For almost eighteen-year-old Shwet Kambli from Boxmeer, the elections come three months early. He does not feel connected to any party. “Politics always changes. I see what suits me best. I will not always vote the same.” He recognizes the quest of his peers. “We are still discovering who we are and which party best suits us.”
“Bontenbal is a nice man, but young people don’t run away with him.”
Zuurbier does not find it surprising that the PVV is less popular among young people in Brabant. “I feel like the younger generation has a broader view and is more open to people from outside.” According to him, the CDA has an older image. “That is the party of my parents, not of the future.”
Boogers also understands why these parties are less appealing. “The PVV says little about issues that keep young people awake at night.” And the CDA? “What is their story about housing or the environment? I wouldn’t know. Bontenbal is a nice man, but young people don’t run away with him.”
According to Zuurbier, young people are less loyal to the traditional parties. “They come into contact with politics more quickly through social media, but there is also a lot of incorrect information. Many young people can no longer see the forest for the trees.”