Berlin, 17 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has come out in favour of a debate on lowering the voting age in Germany to 16 from the current 18 years in comments to the Wednesday edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Steinmeier, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and a former foreign minister, said he had long been sceptical, but that there was a large demographic shift with the number of elderly now making up a growing share of the electorate.

"In a situation like this, I see it, not as necessary, but as advisable to think about whether we should balance the weight of young people by lowering the voting age to 16, for federal elections as well," he said.

Asked about his opinion on extending the life of the legislative period from four years between elections to five, Steinmeier said: "I could see great benefit in giving the Bundestag more time for its legislative work."

Photo: MIA archive