Panama: Dialogue on the GSoD Report and Democracy Day

On behalf of International IDEA, Alicia Del Águila, program manager for Panama, presented the main findings of the report “Global State of Democracy 2025,” highlighting trends in democracies around the world, with an emphasis on Latin America and Panama. Manuel Alcántara, from CIEPS, offered an analysis of the report's findings and the current state of democracy.

The event was opened by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (virtually), who highlighted the defense of democracy as a “daily task” that requires constant vigilance. Along the same lines, the president the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO), Rolando González Patricio (virtually), emphasized the need to “resume the defense of democracy in international relations” to build a more just and peaceful future through dialogue and multilateralism. The European Union ambassador to Panama, H.E. Izabela Matusz, also gave a welcome message.

The keynote address by Rodrigo Noriega offered key reflections on the current socio-political situation, setting the stage for the two panel discussions.

The first panel focused on the challenges facing Panamanian democracy, with the participation of former congresswoman Ana Matilde Gómez; political scientist Ricardo Herrera; and the executive director of the Foundation for the Development of Citizen Freedom, Olga de Obaldía.

The event, entitled “Democracy in the Face of Current Challenges,” was co-organized by International IDEA, the European Parliament, PARLATINO, the International Center for Political and Social Studies (CIEPS), and the Center for Democratic Initiatives (CIDEM). The event was attended by members of parliament and diplomats, underscoring the relevance of the topic for the political class and civil society.

The final conclusions of the event were presented by Jesús Moreno, representative of the European Parliament for Latin America and the Caribbean, who stressed the vital importance of international cooperation as an indispensable pillar for strengthening democratic systems around the world.