Organisatie van Europese verkiezingen wordt problematisch, en dat was te voorkomen
![Foto: iStock. Organisatie van Europese verkiezingen wordt problematisch, en dat was te voorkomen](/sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w28/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=y-LBe1uR 28w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w33/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=5Xlt4Fkf 33w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w39/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=_SLfVqeX 39w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w47/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=zkJsDtxw 47w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w56/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=SqtJLMYj 56w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w66/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=PRRd4QUi 66w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w67/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=2JRwgSsJ 67w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w78/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Ir9aTvXC 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w79/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Ha8MZB3j 79w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w94/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=bjZXEqfE 94w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w111/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=cpNtrEl4 111w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w112/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=tL7J-FaF 112w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w131/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=dunhCQ3m 131w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w134/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=7H-CCgCy 134w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w155/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=r-VgR-Xq 155w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w158/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=5473znzH 158w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w183/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=8xNug1pk 183w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w188/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=qwVoDCV3 188w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w216/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=yg0Ast_w 216w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w222/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=gmhKgG29 222w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w255/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=MRUxvf_K 255w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w262/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Bjz2MosJ 262w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w300/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=ZnftyRf- 300w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w310/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=WK6wj_WS 310w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w353/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Ed4A8bUX 353w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w366/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=LiZFNsJg 366w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w416/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=P2ISBCjF 416w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w432/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=vfvN3hrB 432w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w490/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=eAXThX_K 490w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w510/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=_tPg0nlT 510w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w577/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=ogJOpx1- 577w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w600/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=0qrisxLa 600w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w679/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=0fv4Gj2u 679w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w706/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=ixoLto2E 706w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w799/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=yz4kF8TI 799w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w832/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=QRku2N3u 832w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w941/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=cu-zSIOL 941w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w980/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=PXCK9Bty 980w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1108/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=q2ro5o7h 1108w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1154/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=4pVmgIcH 1154w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1304/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=kgF__S2D 1304w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1358/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Q8vd1Wyy 1358w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1535/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=lKP9lEM2 1535w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1598/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=DI_Anj6J 1598w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1806/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=dpCv-Q5E 1806w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1882/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=PkjrfJak 1882w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2125/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=P_FL0AkB 2125w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2216/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=Aj6JAy24 2216w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2500/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=RcqLQfUk 2500w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2608/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=5TgDMeHc 2608w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w3070/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=yEK5w5vG 3070w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w3612/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=ELHHeKMa 3612w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w4250/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=whgttxOk 4250w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w5000/public/2024-03/iStock-483074908%20%282%29.jpg?h=4ad8bcba&itok=VDIXnRlX 5000w)
Het Vlaams Belang stelt zich ernstige vragen bij de praktische haalbaarheid van de verplichte deelname van 16- en 17-jarigen aan de Europese verkiezingen. Het Grondwettelijk Hof besliste vandaag tot die verplichting. “Hiervoor hebben wij, bij de bespreking van het wetgevend werk hierrond, steeds gewaarschuwd”, zegt fractievoorzitter in de Kamer Barbara Pas (Vlaams Belang). “Ik ga minister van Binnenlandse Zaken Annelies Verlinden (cd&v) ten spoedigste ondervragen over de praktische bezwaren om dit alles op zo’n korte tijd nog georganiseerd te krijgen.”
Op grond van de wet van 25 december 2023 mogen 16- en 17-jarigen deelnemen aan de verkiezing van de in België aan te duiden leden van het Europees Parlement, zonder dat zij zich daarvoor voorafgaandelijk moeten inschrijven. Zij zijn evenwel niet verplicht om deel te nemen aan de stemming en kunnen niet worden gesanctioneerd indien zij niet deelnemen.
“Hiervoor hebben wij steeds gewaarschuwd”
Vandaag heeft het Grondwettelijk Hof echter geoordeeld dat het verschil in behandeling van de kiezers naargelang zij meerderjarig of minderjarig zijn, niet lijkt te zijn verantwoord door dwingende motieven van algemeen belang. Het Hof schorst bijgevolg de bepaling van de wet van 25 december 2023 die alleen meerderjarigen verplicht om te gaan stemmen voor de Europese verkiezingen.
“Ingevolge de schorsing zijn ook de 16- en 17-jarigen verplicht om te gaan stemmen voor de Europese verkiezingen, en kunnen zij worden gesanctioneerd indien zij niet gaan stemmen”, aldus Pas. “Ik ga de minister ondervragen over de mogelijke sancties die deze jonge mensen zullen krijgen indien ze hun verplichting niet naleven. Maar boven alles wil ik van haar vernemen hoe ze dit nog georganiseerd zal krijgen. Dat wordt een heksentoer, zonder meer. Soms kan het duidelijk geen kwaad om naar de waarschuwingen van het Vlaams Belang te luisteren.”