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In competitive sports, being young is an advantage. By the age of 40, the careers of Roger Federer, Lionel Messi, and Lara Gut are coming to an end.
In politics, it’s the opposite. Being young is a hindrance. It’s not until you’re 40 that people recognize you as having a sufficient grasp of reality and enough experience to be elected and to speak in public.
In the Swiss Parliament, the average age of elected officials is 50. And in the current legislative session, only 36 of the 246 elected officials are under 40.
That makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
So, how can we give young people a voice today so they can become engaged in our democracy? How can we educate them and involve them in the political debate?
To find out, Chantal Peyer went to check out an exciting new project that has just launched in Geneva: La Place, a house of democracy for and by young people.
In this episode of the “2040, I’m Going” podcast, you’ll hear:
- Young people talk about a referendum in Geneva
- Stephane Garcia, the executive director of the association La Place, will explain how this project works and what its goals are.
- And Laura Bullon-Cassis, a researcher at the Albert Hirschman Center for Democracy, to broaden our perspective and understand the forms of political engagement among young people.
Not to mention, of course, a trip in 2040.
So grab your headphones!
Interview: Chantal Peyer
Director: Aline Blanchard
Photos from the “ET PK PAS?” get-together at the Sécheron community center. Copyright: Chantal Peyer
References
“ET PK PAS?” Association
Albert Hirschman Center for Democracy
Further information
Young People and Political Parties: What Bridges Can Be Built to Move Forward? Albert Hirschmann Center, Policy Brief, October 2025
Youth and Politics: When Apparent Disinterest Masks Criticism of the Elites, University of Lausanne, September 2025.
FSPJ Youth and Politics Monitoring Report, gfs.berne, September 2023.
Supporters
The podcast “2040, I’m Going!” is made possible thanks to the support of the Giovannini Foundation, the Canton of Valais, the Canton of Vaud, and the Canton of Geneva, as well as Services Industriels de Genève. We would also like to thank our distribution partners: Impact Hub Lausanne-Geneva; One Planet Lab; Archipel de Sion; and sanu.
