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News & Updates
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IFES’ 2013 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards
IFES marked its’ annual Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards with a gala dinner ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C., on September 24. This award underscores IFES’ belief that advancing good governance and democratic rights begins with empowerment of and active participation from citizens.
Each year, three honorees who are united by this belief gather with IFES friends and colleagues to celebrate democracy. This annual event brings together a diverse group of leaders, including ambassadors, government officials and business executives.
Each year, three honorees who are united by this belief gather with IFES friends and colleagues to celebrate democracy. This annual event brings together a diverse group of leaders, including ambassadors, government officials and business executives.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Leonardo Valdés Zurita: Reflections on Elections and Democracy in Mexico
Dr. Leonardo Valdés Zurita, President of Mexico's Federal Electoral Institue and international recipent of IFES' 2013 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award, reflects on his legacy.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Mexico: Voting for a Change
On Sunday, July 1 Mexicans cast their ballots in presidential and congressional elections. For voters, economic growth and the war on drugs were key issues.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES President and CEO On Technology in Elections
In August, the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), the Mexican elections commission, hosted a four-day conference to explore key electoral topics, including challenges in the administration and organization of elections; political and media rights in elections; and access to electoral justice. The conference brought together election experts, practitioners and academics from all over the world as well as government officials. The event took place in Morelia, Mexico.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Programa Estrategico de Educacion Civica 2005-2010
“Strategic Program of Education” is a civic education program description book, available in Spanish, issued in 2005 by the Federal Electoral Institute in Mexico. The book describes the theory of the civic education program and its contextual framework. The program defines the principles and the objectives to be achieved for the realization of the educational politics program, throughout the period of 2005-2010, that would encourage and promote the civic participation of all Mexican people.
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002