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International IDEA´s Secretary-General, Mr Yves Leterme, went on a working mission to Chile from April 13 to April 15. The Secretary-General was accompanied by International IDEA´s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Mr Daniel Zovatto. Chile is one of the founding members of the Institute and has been a strong advocate for more and better democracy the past two decades, not only in its country and region, but also worldwide.

On 10 March, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet established the Presidential Advisory Council against conflicts of interest, influence peddling and corruption, in response to her commitment to take institutional measures to regulate the relationships between money and politics, in both the public and private sectors.

On announcing the establishment of the Council, President Bachelet, stated:

Between 6 and 9 April the results of the Second Survey on Constitutional Culture in Argentina were presented in the cities of Buenos Aires and Cordoba. The survey was performed by International IDEA and Poliarquía Consultores in seven Argentine cities from November through December 2014.

April 13, 2015 | STOCKHOLM - As an important member state of International IDEA since its establishment in 1995, Chile has been actively engaged in initiatives to support democracy in Latin America and worldwide. This commitment is now further reaffirmed by Chile’s decision to host International IDEA’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The news has not been good for Latin America of late: after a “golden decade” (2002-2013) the tailwinds have dwindled. The marked economic slowdown in the region, especially in South America, and the stagnation in poverty reduction are accompanied by growing social discontent, serious corruption scandals, a sharp decline in the popularity of many presidents, and more complex conditions for governability in several countries.

On 10 March 2015, Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet created the Presidential Advisory Council against conflict of interests, influence peddling, and corruption. This recent development is very much in keeping with her commitment in taking institutional measures to regulate the relationship between money and politics in both the political and businesses spheres.

The Ministries of Justice and of the Interior of Colombia, the Inter-American Development Bank and International IDEA organized the “Balance of powers: Experts’ Opinions”, forum as well as the “Balance of powers and institutional readjustment: Congress and democratic transformation” forum on 4- 6 March.

Latin America’s frame of mind is changing. In only three years the region has passed from a state of euphoria about its economic future to a much more moderate optimism and even caution. This new scenario presents a series of questions for Latin America concerning how it can reactivate its growth despite the structural drop in prices of commodities. Given lower economic expansion, can the region deepen, or even sustain, the social progress achieved in the last years?

The elections of 12 October 2014, have reconfigured the conformation of the Bolivian parliament, in which women reached 51 per cent representation in the Legislative Assembly, placing the country in the second place worldwide in the scope of parity, preceded only by Rwanda with 64 per cent and followed by Andorra with 50.0 per cent, Cuba with 49 per cent and Seychelles with 44 per cent. 

Sixteen Latin American countries currently have a legal measure (parity or affirmative action) to try to increase the number of women nominated. However, the impact on women´s chances of getting elected to office is as of yet unverified. In 2014, seven Latin American countries held presidential and/or parliamentary elections: Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay.

On 27 November 2014, the Mexican Senate passed a bill amending the Federal Constitution in order to guarantee equal participation of indigenous women in electoral processes. The bill was initiated by Deputy Eufrosina Cruz Mendoza, a member of the Federal Chamber of Deputies and a Zapotec indigenous who has been involved in an inspiring fight against social and political marginalization of indigenous women in Mexico.

Within the framework of the III International Forum of Santo Domingo (carried out in the Dominican Republic between January 28 and 30, 2015), Daniel Zovatto, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), held a working meeting last January 30 with President Danilo Medina in the National Palace. During this meeting, Dr.

Latin America is starting off 2015 with a clear economic slowdown. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects a modest recovery (2.2 per cent) with respect to last year (in 2014 growth was only 1.1 per cent, the lowest since the 2009 crisis), though these calculations may vary due to several factors.  

The Ministry of the General Secretariat of the Presidency and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 16 December, 2014. The MOU will set forth the basis and mechanisms for cooperation in plans, research projects, training, technical assistance and support to democracy, through academic and institutional activities.

Tabaré Vázquez’s victory by a wide margin in the second round of voting in Uruguay’s presidential election (30 November 2014), was the last in the marathon of elections held in Latin America in 2014. The seven countries that held presidential elections – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay – offer important lessons about electoral politics in the region.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet chaired the First Conference of Women Leaders from Chile and Peru on 17 - 18 November in Santiago, Chile. The event aimed to encourage women’s participation in the public sector, civil society and business and was organized by International IDEA and respective foreign ministries.

The final results of the elections which culminated in the second round re-election of Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ Party (PT) as president of Brazil, illustrates the most striking feature of the 2014 electoral cycle: These were the most competitive presidential elections in the democratic era. The difference between Rousseff and her opponent, Aécio Neves, of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), was just more than 3 per cent: 51.64 per cent and 48.36 per cent respectively.

LIMA — IDEA Internacional reunirá a más de 30 expertos de la región latinoamericana y otros países para encontrarse con representantes del sistema electoral peruano y debatir sobre los sistemas electorales en el segundo congreso internacional sobre “Representación y participación política nacional y subnacional” entre el 27-29 de noviembre 2014.

LIMA — International IDEA will join more than 30 experts from the Latin America region and other countries to meet with representatives of Peru’s electoral system and discuss electoral systems at the second International Congress on “Representation and National and Regional Political Participation” between 27-29 November 2014.