Overseas Pop Stars Say "Vote"... Will the MZ Generation Go to the Polls?

EU, "Please Encourage Young People to Participate in the European Parliament Elections"

Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Union (EU) Commission, has requested SOS from the famous American pop star Taylor Swift. Just as Swift encouraged young voters to vote ahead of the midterm elections in the United States, he asked for her help in the European Parliament elections as well.

"Young people move young voters... I really hope our request is conveyed"

Taylor Swift. [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 10th (local time), Vice President Schinas said during a press conference held in Brussels, Belgium, "Taylor Swift is coming to Europe in May," adding, "So I really hope Swift will do the same for Europe's young generation as she did in the United States." He also noted that Swift's first concert of her European tour on May 9 coincides with the EU's commemorative 'Europe Day.'

He continued, "No one can mobilize young voters better than young people themselves," and gave a clear example: "Last September, when Swift requested young Americans to register to vote through social media (SNS), 35,000 people registered in just one day." He then pleaded, "I really hope someone from Swift's media promotion team sees this press conference and conveys our request to her."

Vice President Schinas's request for help reflects the EU's situation of wanting to expand young voter participation as the European Parliament elections approach.

The 'far-right surge' blowing through Europe makes "young voter participation even more important"

Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Union (EU) Commission. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The European Parliament elections, which began in 1979, showed a consistently low turnout rate below 50% from 1999 to 2014. During this period, the turnout rate continued to decline, reaching a historic low of 42.61% in 2014.

However, the turnout rate in the most recent election in 2019 was 50.66%, surpassing 50% for the first time in 20 years. The EU attributed the high turnout mainly to the participation of teenage voters. According to EU law, member states can set their own voting age. Austria, Germany, Malta, and Belgium allow voting from age 16. Greece grants suffrage from age 17, while the rest start at age 18.

With forecasts that this year's election could be influenced by the recent 'far-right surge' sweeping across Europe, the EU sees young voter participation as more important than ever. Vice President Schinas also emphasized, "Now is the time for young people to exercise their voting rights to praise or criticize EU policies," adding, "For that, the turnout rate among young people must be high, as it was in 2019."

Meanwhile, in the European Parliament elections to be held across all 27 EU countries from June 6 to 9 this year, 720 Members of the European Parliament will be elected for a five-year term.