Editor’s word… Voto

Lawrence Marzouk

I’m not going to patronise you with these well-meaning, smack-in-the-face obvious and hackneyed arguments which are trotted out each time you are required to visit the ballot box. I should know as, much to my regret, I’ve used them many times before.

But I am going to urge you to vote. Not for any of the above mentioned reasons, but because it is crucial for the future of Kosovo, and almost everyone has a vested interest in working for that.

Because just as weather-worn, and far more damaging, are the facile, trivial musings of those who complain that their politicians are corrupt, that their vote would probably be stolen, that all manifestos are manifestly mendacious.

Yes, you might be right, but you are missing the point. And for every two voters who dribble out these platitudes, there is one who is using it as a cover for their sloth.

By staying at home, you are not making a point about your dissatisfaction with the political elite, because no-one can hear your heartfelt concerns from the living room, shielding from the rain.
No-one can tell whether you are indifferent about your country or protesting about the state of Kosovo if you do nothing.

Of course there are other ways to show your dissatisfaction – setup a political party, getting involved in civic initiatives, dressing up as a monkey and riding a donkey around the streets of Pristina in a cunning, but slightly opaque, metaphor – but none of these preclude the act of voting.

And all of these tactics will be certainly more successful at delivering a message than just ignoring the elections.

This isn’t about duty or rights, it’s about bare-faced self-interest.

Show that you care about the problems you claim are discouraging you from voting by taking part in the election, even if this means spoiling your ballot. This will demonstrate to your leaders, and the world, that you care about democracy – which is imperfect to varying degrees in every country.

It will show that you are not indifferent to your future, and the future of your countrymen.

And, most importantly, it will give hope to like-minded individuals that it is worth striving for a fairer, cleaner and more prosperous society.