Where the parties stand | Youth issues

In an election dominated by corruption allegations and mutual mud slinging, real life issues effecting young people in their everyday lives have been relegated to the sidelines.  

In fact, the only issue affecting young people to be discussed extensively in the campaign has been the stipends issue. 

Little discussion has taken place on the lack of community and non-commercial spaces where young people can foster their creativity. Only AD refers to youth centres in its manifesto.

One issue over which the three parties have converged is the right of 16-year-olds to vote in local elections, with AD going a step further and advocating participation in general elections.

Labour has taken an edge with its innovative 'youth guarantee' - a promise to ensure that every student who leaves school is either working or in training. 

The PN and AD have also been thinking out of the box, proposing that every young person should be given the chance to go abroad and participate in voluntary work or cultural events.

Some of the proposals in the manifestos - such as the one that referring to State assistance to music bands, and that referring to stipends for students doing voluntary work abroad - are identical, thus giving the impression that parties copied from each other in the order the manifestos were issued; with AD being followed by the PN, and the PN by PL.

Where the parties stand on youth issues?