Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Column argues Brazil’s older voters hold more political influence than families with children
Pedro Fernando Nery argues that Brazil’s political system gives older people more influence than families with children.
His opening suggestion to ban older people from voting is irony; his broader point is that children and young people need a stronger political voice.
He says this matters because today’s decisions will affect younger generations for longer.
Nery points to Brazil’s high child poverty compared with poverty among older people, citing figures of seven times as high from the World Bank and 12 to 1 from the OECD.
He contrasts this with other countries, where the gap is smaller or older people are poorer.
He raises giving parents extra votes or changing voting-age rules as possible ways to shift influence, while noting these ideas may be hard to adopt under Brazil’s constitution.
His central concern is that public policy should do more to reduce child poverty and protect young people’s prospects.
A column argues that Brazil’s political system gives older people more influence than families with children.
It says policy decisions affect young people and children for longer, while older people have greater access and influence through voting.
The column says Brazil’s child poverty rate is seven times its elderly poverty rate, citing one comparison.
It argues that families with children should have more political power and discusses options such as family voting or giving parents extra votes.
The author suggests that younger people could gain voting power and older voters’ influence could be reduced.
- Who
- Columnist Pedro Fernando Nery argues for greater political influence for families with children.
- What
- The column says older voters have more political influence and proposes ways to strengthen the voice of families with children.
- When
- Published on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- The author says decisions affect younger generations for longer and points to the country’s high child poverty relative to elderly poverty.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- October 19, 2026
- Country discussed
- Brazil
- Child-to-elderly poverty ratio
- 7 to 1, according to the column
- OECD poverty disparity cited
- 12 to 1 in Brazil
- Voting age proposal
- Optional voting at 14 and compulsory voting at 16
1 source
What people are saying
I don't know if the solution is to increase the weight of the young electorate and reduce that of the elderly.
If someone is to be banned from voting, ban the old, he says.