The president of the National Elections Jury (JNE) of Peru, Roberto Burneo, urged all young people in the country to get involved in national political life and, in this way, be able to have a voice and active participation in the elections that will take place in 2026.
During his participation in the National Meeting of Young People for the Bicentennial 2024, organized by the National Secretariat of Youth (Senaju in Spanish), the magistrate explained that young people from 15 to 29 years old currently represent 23.3 % of the population (INEI 2023), and more than half of this sector has some or a lot of interest in national politics (50.5 % young people vs. 39 % adults).
He specified that although the percentage of young candidates for Congress in the 2021 general elections increased compared to the 2016 process (from 5.3 % to 8.3 %), only five congressmen under 30 years of age were elected.
Meanwhile, in the 2022 regional and municipal elections there was a higher proportion of young candidates for district mayors compared to provincial mayors (2.2 % compared to 0.2 %).
On the other hand, Roberto Burneo expressed that it is essential that political organizations comply with the youth quota, so that the lists of candidates, both for regional councilors and for councilors, are made up of no less than 20% of young people over 18 years of age and under 29 years of age.
"These are figures that must change by 2026; that is why I ask all the young people of the country to get involved in national politics so that they can have a voice and not let third parties decide instead of you. Do not be afraid, you are the present and future of Peru," he emphasized.
He also pointed out that it is time to reevaluate youth participation in politics and a first step to go in that direction is that political party leaders be aware of the importance of having young people as members, committee leaders and candidates for important positions.
Roberto Burneo added that political parties must fulfill this requirement not only to meet the electoral quota, but because they must be convinced of the importance of youth participation in politics.
Young voters
The president of the JNE said that it is estimated that in the 2026 elections approximately 2.5 million new voters will vote for the first time. Therefore future candidates for president, governors or mayors will have different messages to capture their attention.
He also said that his administration aims to strengthen the Volunteer Program so that more young people can contribute, as strategic actors, to the construction of citizenship and the strengthening of democracy.
At the end of his speech, he collected some proposals from the young participants regarding issues such as party participation and raising quotas on the lists of candidates of political organizations. It should be noted that he was accompanied in the activity by the national secretary of youth, Carlos Vilela del Carpio.
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Publicado: 18/12/2024