Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter stresses importance of consistency and accountability in promoting democracy
Bern, 15.09.2015 - The Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is chaired by Switzerland this year. At the Council's conference in Stockholm, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, called for persistence in efforts to promote democracy. Mr Burkhalter also used the conference as an opportunity to meet International IDEA's Secretary-General Yves Leterme and Mongolian Foreign Minister Lundeg Purevsuren, who is to take over as Chair of the Council in 2016. International IDEA celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015.
Since it was formed in 1995, International IDEA has worked to promote lasting democracy in selected countries. This includes supporting the reform process in Myanmar, helping to establish elements of good governance in Peru, advising on the formation of political parties in Sudan and encouraging the involvement of women in parliamentary elections in Tunisia.
International IDEA is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015 with Switzerland as Chair of its Council of Member States under the motto "Accountability as a central element of deepening democracy".
"Accountability means taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions – and also being held responsible for them," Mr Burkhalter said today as he opened the meeting of International IDEA's Council of Member States in Stockholm. This, he explained, applies not only to political, administrative and institutional circles, but also to individuals: "Democracies need strong institutions, but they also need a firmly embedded culture of democracy." Only then can the form of state characterised by government of the people, by the people, for the people be realised, he said, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln.
Mr Burkhalter stressed that democracy is a permanent duty, not a static construct: "Working on democracy is a constant process." He added that it takes time for a democratic culture to develop and become embedded – "even in Europe" – and thanked International IDEA for its many years of dedication to the cause of lasting democracy. In spite of the various hurdles democratic systems repeatedly face, the current Chair of the Council is in no doubt that "working hard for democracy is worth the effort."
Before the Council of Member States began its conference, which coincided with the International Day of Democracy, Mr Burkhalter met International IDEA's Secretary-General Yves Leterme to sign an agreement on Switzerland's support for International IDEA over the next four years. In bilateral talks, both parties identified opportunities to step up their commitment to democracy even further, for example as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to be adopted by heads of state and government at the end of September 2015 in New York. Switzerland and International IDEA both played a very active role in preparing the focal points of the sustainable development agenda for the next 15 years.
Mr Burkhalter also used the conference as an opportunity to talk briefly with Mongolian Foreign Minister Lundeg Purevsuren, the next Chair of International IDEA's Council of Member States. One of the topics covered was Switzerland's development cooperation with Mongolia.
International IDEA comprises 28 member states and has observer status at the United Nations. It operates regional offices in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West Asia and North Africa. Switzerland has been a member since 2006 and supports International IDEA's activities via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with an annual contribution of CHF 1 million (2015).
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