In early June, the first Multiplier Event took place in Tallinn at the Hestia Hotel, bringing together representatives from Estonia’s leading political parties and active young citizens. The event aimed to discuss the role of youth and civil society in strengthening democracy and the impact of the European Parliament elections on future politics. The event was moderated by Peeter Taim, who guided the discussion on the topic, “The Main Challenges for Youth and Civil Society in Strengthening Democracy and the Impact of the European Parliament Election Results.”
The discussion featured prominent figures from Estonian politics: Hanah Lahe from the Reform Party, Natalie Mets from the Social Democrats, Virve Linder from Isamaa, Indrek Tarand from Eesti 200, Jana Toom from the Centre Party, Eero Raun from the Right-wingers, and Rasmus Lahtvee from the Estonian Greens. Each candidate had the opportunity to express their views on the importance of increasing youth participation and to explain how their party plans to better integrate young people’s voices into political discourse. During the discussion, the candidates emphasized several key points, ranging from raising education and awareness to developing participatory democracy, where young people would have a greater role in decision-making. Attendees, including many Russian-speaking youth, were able to ask questions and open discussions on topics important to them. Simultaneous interpretation was provided to ensure that all participants could understand the debate and share their thoughts.
At the end of June, the second Multiplier Event took place in Saha village at Liipa Talu, focusing on analyzing youth voter turnout and discussing ways to improve it. The event began with an analysis of the election results, focusing particularly on why youth participation was low in these elections. The aim of the discussion was to identify the reasons for young people’s lack of interest in voting and to propose solutions for increasing their engagement in the future.
In the second part of the event, participants watched videos produced during the project, reflecting the views and thoughts of young people regarding democracy and elections. The videos were used as a tool to illustrate the perspectives of youth and to propose new ways of involving them in the electoral process. Particular attention was given to those young people who will be eligible to vote in the next elections – they were encouraged to participate actively and contribute to democracy.
The overall atmosphere of both events was dynamic and inclusive, providing young people with a platform to express their concerns and suggestions to politicians. The Multiplier Events clearly demonstrated that involving young people in democratic processes is both possible and necessary when they are given a voice and a platform to express their views. In conclusion, the Multiplier Events made a significant contribution to increasing youth awareness and opportunities for participation. Discussions with politicians and reflections on future choices will undoubtedly help to increase youth engagement and active participation in future elections.
