Keynote Remarks by Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

International IDEA 30th anniversary.

Keynote Remarks by Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

First, I would like to thank International IDEA for inviting me to join you in celebrating its Thirtieth Anniversary. I am honored to be here with you today, especially because IDEA has long contributed policy-relevant knowledge, capacity-building, advocacy, and dialogue facilitation to advance and safeguard sustainable democracy globally. As many of you may know, defending democracy—everywhere and always—has been one of the guiding causes of my life.

For three decades, International IDEA has provided us with invaluable tools and information to monitor the state of democracy globally, such as the Democracy Tracker.

Resources like this give us access to data from 173 countries—data that we can use in our analysis and to strengthen our proposals for reinforcing democracy worldwide.

Today, as we witness growing threats to democracy across regions—threats that aim to distort, delegitimize, and dismantle democratic norms and institutions—we must respond not only with alarm but with determination.

The world was shaken by a pandemic that caught most countries unprepared. It deepened inequalities and set back economies. For example, women’s labor force participation in Latin America was pushed back an entire decade.

The year 2024 was one of turmoil, marked by new conflicts, simmering crises, and climate-fueled disasters. According to the UN Refugee Agency, nearly 123 million people had been forcibly displaced by conflict and persecution by the end of June 2024.

We are also facing the persistent, unequal distribution of opportunity and the failure to address poverty effectively. These conditions have left vast segments of society feeling abandoned by traditional political parties. This environment has become fertile ground for populist rhetoric, where outsiders pledge to dismantle the very structures that have failed to close these gaps.

In recent years, distrust in institutions and the disinformation industry have both grown stronger, with political discourse often amplifying them. The result has been the rise of authoritarian populism and a widespread erosion of democratic practices.

We are living in an era of uncertainty, and democracy is under pressure everywhere, at every level. According to International IDEA’s data, as many as three billion people could vote during the 2024 super-cycle of elections. I look forward to the 2025 report, which will be published in September.

For now, we can turn to The Global State of Democracy 2024: Strengthening the Legitimacy of Elections in a Time of Radical Uncertainty, which states that democracy continued to decline in 2023, especially in the areas of representation and rights. And I quote: “On balance, four in nine countries were worse off in 2023 than they had been in 2018, while only one in four had improved, continuing a negative trend that developed roughly a decade ago.”  

In Latin America, however, we see a glimmer of hope. According to Latinobarómetro 2024: Resilient Democracy, the percentage of people who support democracy grew by four points compared to 2023, reaching 52%. This marks the largest increase since 2010 and breaks the long decline that began more than a decade ago.

Still, when we look at the issues people identify as their top concerns, we see that these are not easy problems to solve: 42% of respondents cite the economy, 22% highlight security, and politics ranks third, exceeding 10% in all countries surveyed. These priorities must help guide our efforts.

In short, democracy is under threat around the world, for many reasons. In my years in public life, I have seen it all. Human beings always have a choice—to collaborate, to trust, and to believe in the possibility of a better future. That is why I believe that solutions to even our most daunting challenges are within reach—even if they sometimes seem far away. Because in the end, it always depends on us.

The key is to shift course in the right direction and sustain that course over time. That is where our focus must lie. And that is where I believe there is still work to be done.

Let me propose three areas of action to interrupt the trajectory promoted by those who do not believe in democracy—three ways for reclaiming democracy’s future worldwide.

First, strengthening institutions and upholding the rule of law.

The rule of law remains the foundation of every democratic society. Judicial independence and equal treatment under the law are non-negotiable and must be actively protected.

We must strengthen mechanisms that hold power to account. That means reinforcing independent institutions charged with overseeing executive, legislative, and regional authorities. It means establishing clear, enforceable standards—and guaranteeing consequences when they are violated. It means defending press freedom, protecting journalists, and maintaining a justice system that is beyond reproach. And it means encouraging public debate grounded in facts and supported by a vibrant civil society.

Combating corruption is essential to all of this. Anti-corruption measures must be more than words on paper; they must be well-funded, transparent, and strictly enforced. Populism takes root where impunity thrives. That is why strengthening legal frameworks and applying them consistently is key to defending democratic governance.

If we do not act decisively and in time, democratic institutions will continue to deteriorate. Power will become more concentrated, and citizens more disillusioned. The immense wealth produced by globalization should serve as a warning: without just taxation and effective regulation—both national and supranational—inequality will grow, and democratic legitimacy will decline.

Restoring trust in institutions requires more than rhetoric; it demands results. People must see that democracy delivers—that it improves their daily lives in real and meaningful ways. Only then will they trust public authorities and democracy itself. And only then they will be willing to defend it.

Second, strengthening participation.

As the International DEA report I mentioned earlier notes, the credibility of elections worsened in more than one-fifth of countries covered (39 out of 173) between 2018 and 2023. Also, voter turnout has been declining, while protests and riots have been rising.

The global average for voter turnout has dropped from 65.2% to 55.5% over the past 15 years. Voting and vote counting are now among the most-contested aspects of the electoral process. I quote: “Electoral outcomes are disputed relatively frequently. Between 2020 and 2024, in almost one in five elections a losing candidate or party rejected the electoral outcome. Elections are being decided by court appeals at almost the same rate.” End of quote.

Taken together, these trends help explain why public confidence in political processes is weakening. And that is something we must address.

Citizen engagement is essential to a healthy democracy. We must create meaningful spaces for public input so that people feel their voices are genuinely heard. Transparency and accountability are also crucial to restoring faith in institutions. We must foster sustained, inclusive dialogue and build consensus across differences, so we can overcome the polarization that divides us.

We must not only encourage voting—but ensure that participation is continuous and active. When people understand how the democratic system works, and when they are engaged throughout, they are less likely to question election outcomes.

In this sense, investing in civic education is vital—so we can cultivate a citizenry that is informed, reflective, and aware of both its rights and responsibilities.

Civil society plays a critical role—but so do political parties. Unfortunately, in many countries around the world, voters are turning away from traditional parties and seeking alternatives in political outsiders who promise to dismantle elites and disrupt the status quo.

In too many cases, established parties have grown disconnected from the needs and voices of ordinary citizens. People no longer feel represented or heard. They are searching for new leaders—those who will address their demands.

Yet for democracy to endure, strong political parties are indispensable. Democracy needs parties that can channel public demands, build platforms rooted in real social needs, and select capable individuals to serve the common good.

Political parties must move beyond functioning solely as vehicles for power. They must once again become dynamic spaces of civic participation and democratic debate. This is essential if we are to transform citizen demands into meaningful proposals and renew public confidence in democratic institutions. To do so, we must reform the internal practices and incentives that have fueled disillusionment and disengagement.

We must also protect the freedom of the press and expression, and stand firm against disinformation and the deliberate spread of falsehoods. Only through collective, sustained effort can we rebuild a political system that is genuinely representative, accountable, and capable of responding to the needs of our time.

We must also protect freedom of the press and expression, and stand firmly against disinformation and the spread of fake news. Only through collective action can we rebuild a truly representative and responsive political system.

Third, renewing and strengthening the role of multilateralism.  

In light of the global landscape we've discussed, I want to highlight the importance of multilateralism. Despite visible crises, most countries, most of the time, still respect international law. Violations are serious, yes—but they remain exceptions. This tells us something vital: the rules still work. A shared framework continues to guide international behavior. And that framework is worth defending and reinforcing.

I am convinced that the path forward requires renewing multilateralism and strengthening its core institutions. With more cooperation and collective commitment, we can build lasting solutions to the threats we face as an international community, including the task of strengthening democracy.

Countries must reinforce both regional cooperation and multilateral efforts. Our success in defending democracy—and the values we hold dear—depends on our ability to act together. Regional alliances are key to advancing shared democratic goals, holding leaders accountable, and fostering international dialogue.

Democracy is the only political system that can move us closer to global peace. We must revitalize multilateralism, strengthen preventive diplomacy, and renew our commitment to human rights and sustainable development. These are the pillars of lasting peace.

International organizations must recommit to democracy promotion—but in ways that respect national sovereignty. Democracy-building efforts should empower countries to lead their own processes, not impose models from the outside. At the same time, we must integrate gender equality and human rights into all of these efforts. Women and marginalized communities must not only be included—they must benefit. Too often, they are the most affected by democratic deficits.

The United Nations, with all its challenges, remains the most legitimate and representative forum for collectively addressing global threats to peace and security. Initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future show that we have the right tools. What is often missing is the political will to implement what we have already agreed upon.

Dear friends,

Strengthening democracy is not a one-time effort, it is a continuous process that requires vigilance, commitment, and courage. Leaders must confront the root causes of inequality, poverty, and the deep discontent that too often pervades our societies. In this effort, your work and contributions are indispensable.

To advance this cause, we must uphold the rule of law and create genuine avenues for public participation, so that the voices of the people are not only heard but truly taken into account. Promoting transparency and accountability is essential to restoring trust in our institutions and democratic processes. We must foster open dialogue, build consensus, and work together in pursuit of the common good.

We must unite to defend democratic values. Only through collective action can we overcome the challenges we face.

And let us not forget: The responsibility lies with all of us—states, regional organizations, international organizations like IDEA, civil society, and each citizen—to renew our shared commitment to democracy, for this generation and for those yet to come.

Thank you.