India, a founding Member State of International IDEA, will oversee the governance of an intergovernmental Council of 35 Member States and two Observers from all regions of the world. Gyanesh Kumar, Honourable Chief Election Commissioner of India, will represent India in the role as Chair. Mauritius and Mexico will serve as Vice Chairs alongside India.
“India’s Chairmanship of International IDEA envisions to share with you all not only the learnings of the world’s oldest, largest, the most diverse and inclusive modern democracy, but also the democratic values and principles deeply enshrined in India’s civilizational heritage,” said Gyanesh Kumar. “India’s Chairmanship will be decisive, ambitious and action oriented, demonstrating to the world at large that democracies can lead to a united, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.”
India’s Chairship theme, “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world,” reflects a global and ambitious Chairship agenda. Under this overarching theme, International IDEA and India, through the Election Commission’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, will cooperate with project funding to advance two strategic pillars: reimagining democracy for the future and strengthening the independence and professionalism of electoral management bodies.
India’s strong commitment is a testament to the importance the country places on International IDEA’s mission to support, protect and advance democracy worldwide. The Chairship presents a vital opportunity to deepen multilateral and cross-regional cooperation at a time when international support for democracy faces significant headwinds. “Having the world’s largest democracy and a key power in the Global South as the Chair of the Institute is a motive for satisfaction. It is the ostensible proof that International IDEA is a global organization and that the task of protecting democracy is a joint endeavor for all of us, wherever we may come from,” said International IDEA’s Secretary-General, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora.
India has been a Member State of International IDEA since 1995. The Institute’s Council of Member States has an annually and regionally rotating Chairship, with new Chairs and Vice Chairs elected each December by the Member States. For further details about the role of Chair, please visit our dedicated Chairship page.
