Tiraspol, 3 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. President Vadim Krasnoselsky held a meeting with the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Yelena Gorodetskaya, the presidential press service reports. She told the president the CEC had been actively engaged in developing a youth electoral concept. Gorodetskaya recalled the organisation of an essay contest among high school students dedicated to elections, as well as business games based on voting and elections. Only urban youth had participated in those activities until recently. Today, rural schoolchildren are involved in the process as well.
Gorodetskaya noted their interest and high level of preparedness. "Young people enthusiastically take part in business games. They seriously study legislation and develop their own electoral programmes. Candidates prepared campaign materials that meet the requirements of the CEC. They also have their own agents," noted Gorodetskaya. Noteworthy is the fact that students try their hand at various roles when imitating the election of the president, head of the village state administration, chairperson of the local council.
Gorodetskaya said that the CEC was planning to hold a number of joint events with Pridnestrovie's Youth Parliament, in particular, the organisation of a school of observers and a school of young candidates. After the adoption of presidential amendments to a youth policy law, the CEC is drafting a regulation on the formation of youth electoral commissions. The draft is to be considered at the end of summer. New standards are expected to be implemented in the autumn.
"We plan to appeal to the heads of the state states administrations of cities and districts, as well as employees, to start preparation of the personnel reserve for precinct election commissions in the next electoral cycle. The CEC has prepared tests and teaching materials for training potential commission members," Gorodetskaya told the president.
Stressing the importance of the CEC's work in training human resources, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that interaction with young people must not end at the end of "business games."
"It would be right that heads [of state administrations], local councillors and MPs invite future colleagues to participate in practical activities. Guys should get the opportunity to attend meetings, the reception of citizens so that a young man could immerse himself in the actual process of leadership and go through all the corridors of power," the president believes. He instructed Gorodetskaya to develop a mechanism for practical interaction between potential leaders and the current authorities.
