The Academic Federation of Porto published this Wednesday a survey of 730 students at the University of Porto in which “96% say they want to vote in the European elections, 80% support the European project and 75% oppose compulsory military service.”
The survey, entitled “From the Academy to Europe,” ran from May 4 to May 30 “to find out the interest and level of electoral participation, as well as their views on the European project,” he points out. in a statement sent to Lusa by the Academic Federation (FAP).
Of the 96% of those who intend to exercise their right to vote in the European elections scheduled for Sunday, “only 22% say that they regularly monitor the activities of Portuguese MPs elected to the European Parliament,” and regarding monitoring the work carried out by Portuguese MPs: “ 56% said they took action on time, while 22% admitted they didn’t take action.”
In terms of voting, “approximately 98% said they exercised their right to vote in the March 10 legislative elections,” and when asked if they watched debates between political party leaders, “84% said they saw more than one discussions, with only 10% responding that they did not watch television in person.”
Quoted in the statement, FAP President Francisco Porto Fernandez said the results “contradict the idea that young people are not interested and that they are abstaining from voting activities, since only about 2% admitted that they did not vote in the elections.” legislative elections.”
From the analysis of the responses, “it stands out that six out of 10 students who do not intend to vote in the European elections do not identify themselves with the European project or are indifferent to it. However, among the total number of respondents, the vast majority, 80%, say they identify with the European Union (EU),” the publication continues.
Comparing with a survey carried out in 2019, before the last European Parliament elections, Francisco Porto Fernandez notes “a very positive trajectory in identifying and supporting the European project” and that at that time “only 64% of students felt identified.” with the European project.”
When asked which three themes they associated with the European project, the most common answer was “free movement”, chosen by two thirds of respondents, while “peace and stability” and “European funds” were chosen by more than a third of students, in a list that also included ” economic progress” and “security and defence”, it also states.
In the face of growing threats to European security, students were also asked whether the EU should create a European army and “there was a split among respondents: 36% said they were in favor, 30% said they were against and 34% did not know or chose not to answer” , – notes FAP.
“However, when asked about the restoration of compulsory military service, 75% of students responded that they did not agree, and only 12% expressed support for this measure, and 13% did not know or preferred not to answer,” the document adds.
The survey was conducted from May 4 to May 30, answered in person at the Queima das Fitas in Porto and online on other days, with an average age of 20.4 years. The majority, 78.5%, attend public higher education courses, FAP reports.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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