Therese Pearce Laanela on democratic renewal through trustworthy elections

In this episode of Democracy IDEAs, Gavin Charles, Speechwriter & Governance Officer at International IDEA, sits down with Dr. Therese Pearce Laanela, the Head of Electoral Processes at International IDEA, about her new book, Trustworthy Elections: The Role of Electoral Management Bodies. Drawing on nearly 35 years of experience supporting elections around the world, she reflects on why trust remains fundamental to democratic legitimacy and resilience.

The discussion explores trust, diversity and innovation as part of the importance of Renewing Democracy, which is also the 2026 advocacy theme for the Institute.