Young people in Europe are seeking political alternatives. How did they vote in the European elections?

Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024

Young voters support far-right parties across Central and Eastern Europe due to social media influence and disillusionment.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A recent Ipsos poll indicates that a coalition of lesser-known parties gained support among young Czech voters, with an average age of 38 for those who voted for “Oath and Motorized for You.” This coalition achieved over 10% of the vote in European elections, placing third. About 35-40% of its voters had never voted before, partly due to a lack of suitable political offerings or being too young. Young Czech voters were unfazed by the coalition leader’s past scandals and accusations of neo-Nazism. Experts suggest this success is more linked to disillusionment with traditional parties and effective social media use than widespread support for far-right views among youth. This trend mirrors situations in France, where Jordan Bardella succeeded through strong social media engagement tailored to younger audiences. In France, 32% of voters aged 18-34 supported the National Rally. Political scientists suggest this support stems from feeling unheard by politicians and concerns over unemployment and immigration. Similar trends are observed in Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany is a major party, and in Poland, where Konfederacja received significant votes from 18-29 year olds. Lower youth turnout was also noted in Bulgaria.


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