She will complete her master’s in philosophy next week, then take her seat in the Flemish parliament at the end of September. Amina Vandenheuvel, 22, wants to do all she can to create a better world as a politician, and that’s something she learned at VUB. “I’m very happy that I was able to study philosophy. It taught me to look at the world with an open mind.”
Amina: “I joined RedFox, the PVDA’s youth movement, when I was 16. I became especially active in the climate movement, organising protest marches. That’s where I learned about engagement. So many young people came together and it was impressive to see that they can really make politicians listen to them. It inspired me. My main motivation to run to parliament was that for too long I thought there was no place in politics for young people like me. That politicians are not concerned with the things that young people care about. After all, a lot is decided in parliament about young people’s lives and futures, so it’s only right that they should have a say too.”
“Often young people are told to accept the world as it is and that not too much can change”
Do you think young people are adequately represented in politics?
“No, and you can see that in the policies being pursued. There are too few young people in politics. In general, politicians don’t seek their opinions that much either. Take De Lijn’s new transport plan: you can see very clearly how the minister, who never takes the bus himself, makes decisions without listening to public transport users. I hear from students at the VUB that sometimes they cannot come to class because they are two hours away.”
Do young people make themselves heard enough?
“Certainly they do. I chair RedFox in Antwerp and work with young people every week. They are very engaged about a lot of things, especially when it comes to their future. Will they be able to buy a house, will they find a decent job soon? Politics gives them very few answers to that today.”
What are you going to focus on?
“Of course, as a 22-year-old, I don’t have the experience to have a specialism already. What I mainly want to do is continue speaking to other young people and bringing their voices to parliament. I want to actively work on public transport, Palestine, dress codes that apply in schools but not on the streets, among other things.”
“The poverty of our democratic system is that you go to the voting booth every five years, tick a box and listen to blablabla for a week.”
Do VUB values play into your political choice?
“I’m very happy that I’ve been able to study philosophy. It’s taught me to look at the world with an open mind. Often young people are told to accept the world as it is and that not too much can change. What I learned during my studies is that you should not just accept everything and that you should dare to stand up for a better world. You have to believe that change is possible.”
Should there be more philosophers in parliament?
“Maybe there are too few (laughs). When I used to look at parliament, I didn’t see anyone like me. I’m young, of Moroccan origin and I’m enthusiastic. Whereas in parliament, I saw mostly older, male, white lawyers. That’s a shame, because parliament should be a reflection of our society. Why are there no philosophers there, why no workers, why so few young people and women?”
Why do you think that’s the case?
“I think it is difficult for those people to get into parliament. There is also a lot of doubt: many people question representation. They think politicians take decisions that have little impact for themselves but do for citizens.”
Professor Caroline Buts worries that so few students vote in the VUB Student Council elections. Do you understand that?
“Absolutely, but I don’t think students don’t care about what happens at the VUB. Look at the occupation taking place there. They are concerned about decisions taken at our university. But I personally don’t know the answer to why so few vote. I wasn’t on the Student Council myself either; that had mainly to do with my political activism elsewhere.”
There were 1.5 million Belgians whose votes were blank, invalid or for the Blanco party. Are people losing faith in democracy?
“I think so. The poverty of our democratic system is that every five years you go to the voting booth, tick a box and listen to blablabla for a week. On the Monday after the election, you don’t see the politicians in the market. So people get the feeling their vote wasn’t worth so much. I want to remain active and not just sit in parliament. I’m not claiming there are no hardworking people among politicians, but for the vast majority of people, things just don’t change enough. It may be funny that as a 22-year-old I lie awake worrying about our pensions, but it is striking that our politicians have decided that we have to work until 67, while I hear Maggie De Block proclaiming that she will retire at 62 because she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren. That is a slap in the face for many people and it does not contribute to the credibility of politics.”
What will you remember from your student days?
“The desire to be engaged with our world and want to change it. That’s something I learned at VUB: you have to go for it. You don’t have to go into politics to do that: lots of VUB students show their commitment to a better world.”