Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections — but is it playing into the far right’s hands?

Data shows Germany's 15- to 24-year-old age group has a broadly more positive view of the European Parliament than the rest of the German population. Picture: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Ahead of the European parliament elections in June, Germany has lowered the age limit on participation to 16. This makes it the largest of just a handful of states in the EU to allow people under the age of 18 to vote. 

Austria, Belgium, and Malta have already enfranchised 16- and 17-year-olds, and Greece is to allow anyone turning 17 in 2024 to participate in the June vote.