Misguided criticism
There’s a blatant contradiction in the public discussion about meritocracy.
On the one hand, there is demand for new faces in politics. On the other, as soon as a new person steps onto the stage or aligns him or herself with a party, he or she is accused of being unworthy. The issue is not about excluding anyone who is politically active from public office. It is about making sure that apart from their political activities, they also have the qualifications needed for the job.
Demonizing political affiliations simply ends up stigmatizing participation in public service.