Democracy is priceless, but it comes at a cost

“Just because public financing of political parties is unpopular in Peru doesn’t mean it’s not important.”

With those words, Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA’s director for Latin America and the Caribbean, suggested considering implementation of the Peruvian law that provides for such financing. “No one is suggesting that investment in and financing of parties be done only with public resources; there needs to be a mixed system of public and private donations,” he said. He added that “high-quality democracy needs high-quality institutions, and these must include parties and Congress.”

Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean was in Lima on 18 to 20 August at the invitation of Peru’s electoral oversight bodies, the ONPE and JNE.

Zovatto inaugurated the “Domingo García Rada” electoral chair with the keynote address on “The State of Democracy in Latin America: 35 years after the First Democratic Wave,” in which he explored the accomplishments and challenges for democracies in this part of the world. JNE President Francisco Távara presented Dr. Zovatto with the “Civic Merit Medal” in the degree of Defender of Democracy.

Dr. Daniel Zovatto presents the keynote address on “The State of Democracy in Latin America: 35 years after the First Democratic Wave,” as part of the Domingo García Rada chair.

^{Dr. Daniel Zovatto presents the keynote address on “The State of Democracy in Latin America: 35 years after the First Democratic Wave,” as part of the Domingo García Rada chair.}

^{JNE President Francisco Távara, left, presents Dr. Daniel Zovatto with the Civic Merit Medal in the degree of Defender of Democracy.}

The following day, Zovatto participated in the international seminar, “Financing Politics in Peru,” sponsored by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), organized by the National Office of Electoral Processes (Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales, ONPE) the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and inaugurated by Peruvian Vice President Marisol Espinoza.

The two events were attended by more than 300 people, including politicians, businesspeople, academics, public opinion leaders and public officials.

Other prominent national and international panelists discussed the role of money in politics and the role of political organizations in political life.

• Iván Briscoe (Holland), senior researcher in the Clingendael Conflict Research Unit, presented the IDEA and NIMD Study on illicit networks and politics in Latin America
• Mariano Cucho, (Peru) formulated the challenges of supervising political finance
• Juan Fernando Londoño (Colombia), director of the Center for Political Analysis and former Colombian vice minister for internal affairs, shared information on Colombian political reform and lessons learned
• Percy Medina, International IDEA´s Head of Mission for Peru, presented the event´s conclusions linking them with the knowledge and information produced by International IDEA in publications and databases on the subject

The following are links related to the events:

• Primera cátedra electoral "Domingo Garcia Rada"
• Proponen agenda para mejorar el financiamiento de la política en el Perú
• ONPE pide a Congreso “cambio de paradigma” para hacer real el financiamiento público directo a partidos
• Daniel Zovatto considera fundamental implementar el financiamiento público directo a los partidos
• Hay que potenciar capacidades fiscalizadoras y de supervisión del JNE y de la ONPE
• El jefe de la ONPE y Daniel Zovatto hablaron sobre el financiamiento político en el Perú. Parte 1
• El jefe de la ONPE y Daniel Zovatto hablaron sobre el financiamiento político en el Perú. Parte 2

^{Peruvian Vice President Marisol Espinoza opens the seminar}