The French government is considering banning politicians over 70 from standing for office in a bid to inject new blood into the country’s political class – proposals that unsurprisingly have not gone down well with some of France’s older officials, reports FRANCE 24.
The age cap – which would apply to those standing in both local and parliamentary elections – was one of a number of recommendations made in a government-sponsored report on published Monday looking at ways of getting more young people involved in politics.
It also suggested limiting MPs and senators to no more than three terms in office as well as lowering the voting age to 16.
The proposals are now being considered by France’s minister for youth Patrick Kanner.
“This could be a very popular measure … [But] I do not have to decide at this stage,” the minister told AFP.
“The question of age is a legitimate one,” Kanner said. “The report’s writers wanted to provoke debate.”
If the rules are introduced, they could have a serious impact on the make-up of France’s current tranche of elected officials.
There are currently 53 MPs aged over 70 among the 577 members of the country’s lower house National Assembly. The oldest is the 86-year-old Loïc Bouvard, a member of the centre-right party Les Républicains.
Within the 344-member upper house, there are 83 senators aged at least 71.