Buenos Aires, November 16 (NA)—A report on youth (ages 16 to 30) revealed a panorama of deep apathy and contradiction: although 62% say they are interested in politics, 77% state that it generates 'negative feelings' for them. In marked contradiction, the youth themselves show strong support for state intervention: 83.1% agree that 'The State must guarantee public health and education.' 68% believe that 'The State must protect the most vulnerable.' 56.9% support that 'The State must regulate sensitive issues such as rents or transportation.' 52% believe that 'The rich should pay more taxes than the rest.' This pro-state stance coexists with 'hard-line' opinions. 67.8% agree that 'The only way to end crime is with a hard line,' and 59.4% believe that 'The entry of immigrants into the country should be restricted.' Regarding the government of Javier Milei, young people are divided: 45.1% believe the country is heading in the 'right direction,' against 41.8% who think it is going in the 'wrong direction.' On their personal economic situation, 38.3% said it 'worsened,' while 22.9% said it 'improved.' When asked which political space thinks more about them, apathy is clear: 34.6% answered 'Nobody.' The main conclusion is that young people relate to politics 'only from confrontation and anger,' a product of 'years of an absent State.' According to what Noticias Argentina agency learned from the report, distrust towards traditional institutions is almost total. Key ruling stops banks: it is illegal to execute credit card debts in the singular way proposed. The study, titled 'The Face of Apathy,' was conducted by the consulting firm Zuban Córdoba y Asociados and the Public Opinion Observatory of the National University of Villa María (UNVM). 79% distrust political parties and unions, 74.2% the Congress, and 74.9% the media. Surprisingly, the study detected that actors previously valued by this segment are now 'discredited': 65.1% of young people distrust feminist groups and 56% distrust LGBT+ groups. However, the consulting firm warns that this discreditation 'does not imply a total adherence to what we could call 'conservative ideas'.' In second place was La Libertad Avanza with 32.1%, and in third, Fuerza Patria (kirchnerism) with 16.6%. The authors conclude that there is no 'new hegemony,' but a 'dispute in progress' for a 'vacant representation.'
Youth Survey in Argentina Shows Apathy and State Support
A survey of Argentine youth reveals a paradox: despite apathy and distrust in politics, young people support state intervention in the economy and social issues. They are divided in their assessment of Milei's government.