The next European elections will take place all around the EU this year, from May 23rd to the 26th. The elections are held every five years for the European Parliament – and you decide who you think should represent you and your beliefs.
In this month of March, when we celebrate the International Women’s Day (which is not about flowers and chocolates; it is about recognizing the incredible efforts of the women before us, who relentlessly fought for our rights; as well as recognizing the injustices that still persist all over the world), we, women, should vow to honor the courage and strength of the women before us, and vote.
In a world that is constantly trying to quiet our voice, we must speak up; we must not quit. We are here, standing strong, and we need to show them we want our concerns to be heard, the prejudice we feel daily to disappear. And so, your vote matters – and it matters more than you think.
Amidst the current political climate, it does become crucial to think about who you want to vote for. All over Europe, far-right, conservative parties have emerged – parties who, amongst multiple discriminatory policies, have assumed quite sexist stances, and frequently attempt to dictate what the role of women in society should be, according to their limited view. Many of these parties are part of some of the Europarties – it is the case of the Finns Party, the Danish People’s Party and Fidesz (Viktor Orbán’s party). You might not even be aware of it, but when you vote for a Europarty, you might be voting for one of those. But this is not just about far-right parties; it’s about all the parties who purposefully ignore women’s rights. They share a backwards, conservative and dangerous vision of women, and thus, they can considerably push for policies that will have a very negative impact on your life.
Therefore, you must vote, and you must do so wisely. Please, take the time to analyze the European political parties; take the time to discover the values they are defending, what parties are included in those Europarties, and whether those are the ideals that you wish to see in your Europe. Think of the consequences of your vote – how will they impact women, not just in your own country, but in all the EU. Of course, you must take into account other variables, other matters that concern you too. Nonetheless, when choosing the party you will vote for, do not forget to add its view on women’s rights to the equation.
These EU elections are also about women – they are about finally recognizing that there is still a long way to go; that injustices are still here, and it is about time we start doing something about them.
At the end of the day, you decide who you want to represent you. If you do not vote, you are allowing other people to make choices for yourself and for your own future, which you may not agree with. Whichever you end up voting for, vote in a fully informed manner. Do not let others decide for you – go out there and vote!