Democracy needs participation: Larissa Zivkovic as the new SJ chairman!

Democracy needs participation: Larissa Zivkovic as the new SJ chairman!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On February 22, 2025, Larissa Zivkovic, a 22-year-old activist from Upper Austria, was elected with an overwhelming majority as the new chairman of the Socialist Youth Austria (SJ). The association day took place in Vienna and was under the motto "Democracy must also play a central role in working life". In her passionate speech, Zivkovic demanded more participation for employees and criticized current political irresponsibility: "Blue-black has failed, but its ideology has not yet. If we want to protect our democracy from Kickl & Co. In doing so, she emphasized the need to strengthen democratic values ​​in all areas of life, especially in schools and companies.

The call for co -determination

In her speech, Zivkovic stated that a lack of co -determination and low wages are considered threatening to democracy. "In a society in which the market is free, democracy is usually not," she said. This also confirms a Europe -wide study that showed that people who feel passed on in the workplace are often skeptical about democracy. Their demands include a mandatory right of co -determination for workers to ensure that those who with their work secure the prosperity of society can also have a say in what is happening with their efforts. Zivkovic describes this as a fundamental step to anchor the democratic ideals in society.

Zivkovic, which has been active since the age of 14 and is now taking over the chair of the largest left -wing youth organization in Austria, expressed their thanks for the trust they have placed in them: "I will do everything to form an opposite pole and to show concrete alternatives to the neoliberal destruction course," said the new chair. Your choice marks an important step in the further development of socialist youth, especially in times when extremely right -wing ideologies are on the rise, as it emphasized.

Details about Civilian demands and the discussions on the association day can be read at Springer Link where further background information on political participation and their importance are explained in our society.