Young people once again wield political power in North Rhine-Westphalia's state parliament, with over 190 participants aged 16 to 20 filling the seats of major parties like CDU, Greens, SPD, FDP, and AfD until Saturday's conclusion. This 13th Youth State Parliament strives to shape concrete policy, with resolutions advocating for politics as a compulsory subject up to tenth grade and boosting apprenticeship appeal to combat skill shortages.
These motions from the Youth Parliament are not discarded without consideration. They are forwarded to the state parliament's main committee and could even be discussed in specialist committees if appropriate. State Parliament President André Kuper believes in the importance of fostering young political participation, calling democracy a "guarantor of peace" amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Julia Wimmelmeier, a 20-year-old real estate student from Rietberg, serves as this year's State Youth Parliament President. She highlights the significance of young voices in shaping democracy and hopes that the parliament listens. Since its inception in 2008, over 2,500 young individuals have been part of the Youth Parliament, selected by the members of parliament. This year, nearly 80% are high school students, with 20% joining from other schools, and 45% being female.
Compulsory political education could potentially boost civic engagement, improve political awareness, and increase voter participation, as observed in countries with mandatory voting and civics education. However, concerns regarding student disinterest, curriculum overload, professional development for teachers, and implementation inconsistencies still remain.
For the three days of the Youth Parliament, young political minds shape policy, opening doors for conversation between the parliament and their voices.
