With 11 of 18 Latin American countries having had elections between November 2005 and December 2006, Latin America underwent a major political transformation. While some countries have made major progress in democratization, the performance of others in this respect has either lagged behind or gone backwards.
Nonetheless, Latin America is better off democratically than it was 29 years ago when the so-called Third Wave of democratization began. Across the region these new governments are now focusing on the political and electoral reform necessary to ensure governance and development, in the one region in the world that combines democratically elected regimes in each country (except Cuba) with high levels of poverty and the most disproportionate distribution of wealth.
Against this background it should come as no surprise that the work of International IDEA’s Latin America team has intensified in recent months, particularly in the areas of democratization and political reform.
Constitution-building processes
From the left: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador Maria Fernanda Espinoza, President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, Secretary General of OAS José Miguel Insulza and Head of International IDEA's Andean Programme Rafael Roncagliolo. Photo: Hilton Colón Hotel
In both the Dominican Republic and Ecuador, International IDEA looked into how constitution building can provide a long-term solution to the democratic challenges in each country. In Santo Domingo, International IDEA met with President Leonel Fernández and Monsignor Agripino Núñez, President of the Social and Economic Council to discuss constitutional reform; while in Quito, Ecuador, International IDEA’s Latin America and Constitution-Building Processes teams, joined President Rafael Correa and Secretary-General of the Organization of Americas States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, for an Inter-regional workshop on constitution-building processes. International IDEA also arranged an Inter-Regional Workshop (South-South) in Ecuador on nation-building processes in Latin America; and, together with its partner, the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD), organized an event for female candidates to the Constituent Assembly on gender equity in the constitution-building process.
Electoral Reform
In the Dominican Republic, International IDEA organized a training workshop on electoral reform and the role of the judiciary. This seminar brought together judges from the Electoral Tribunals of Panama and Mexico, as well as the President of the National Electoral Commission of Uruguay. Just a few weeks later, our regional headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica hosted a seminar with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica to discuss international lessons on institutions and mechanisms for direct democracy as well as specific challenges for Costa Rica in the country’s 7 October 2007 referendum.
Party building and the financing of political parties
Another series of conferences shifted the spotlight onto the financing of political parties and how to strengthen their internal capabilities. In an event organized with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in La Paz, Bolivia, party representatives from Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico shared their experiences about internal democracy. Representatives from all of Bolivia’s major national and sub-national parties were present to listen to the advice of their fellow Latin Americans on how to encourage political participation and build trust in Bolivia’s political parties. International IDEA also presented a joint study with UNDP on The State of Opinion of the Constitution in Bolivia.
From the left: Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA Regional Director for Latin America, and Guillermo Reyes, Vice Minister of Justice of Colombia. Photo: IDEA
Similarly, in Mexico and Colombia, International IDEA brought together a variety of party representatives from Latin America who presented different case studies covering party financing laws and media access for political parties during election campaigns. In Mexico the seminar formed part of International IDEA’s broader technical assistance project to the Senate. The seminar in Colombia focused both on regulations and the important issue of how to guarantee transparent political funding.
The intellectual exchange of best practices and potential reforms for political parties continued with an international seminar in Santiago, Chile organized with UNDP and national political party foundations.
Finally, in Peru, International IDEA convened a seminar on Regional Movements and Political Systems which aimed to achieve a better understanding of how sub-national political movements can participate effectively and constructively in the political system.
In response to the growing demand for its knowledge and expertise, International IDEA established an office in La Paz, Bolivia in July 2007. It has also initiated joint programmes recently with UNDP in Bogotá, Colombia and with NIMD in Quito, Ecuador.
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