Young leaders, old pitfalls4 reading minutes

Young political leaders are regularly perceived as figures of rupture with the «old world». However, it's hard to say whether their promises of renewal are actually realized.

Their arrival in power is often described as a «breath of fresh air», a «renewal» or even a «revolution». Young leaders often embody the hope of a political second wind. This perception is understandable in a world where political power is dominated by older people. In 2020, the median age of the world's leaders was 62, as reported in Le Temps.

Young heads of state promise to move beyond the old world. In the eyes of many voters, their youth is a guarantee of a change of course. Their electoral promises enthuse the crowds, but often, after the hopes of the beginning, comes the tempest of the end.