Mexico and International IDEA sign a host-country agreement to establish a sub-regional office in Mexico City

On 10 October 2017, the Government of Mexico, represented by the Ambassador of Mexico to Sweden, Agustín Gasca Pliego, joined International IDEA's Secretary-General Yves Leterme, and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean,  Daniel Zovatto, for the signing ceremony of the host-country agreement to establish a sub-regional office of International IDEA in Mexico City.

Este articulo se encuentra disponible en Castellano.

“We are delighted to take this important step together to deepen our collaboration with Mexico” said Secretary-General Leterme at the signing ceremony.

Ambassador Agustín Gasca Pliego noted that “Mexico is an example of how the experience and work of institutions like International IDEA can assist democratic systems in their development”.

With Mexico joining International IDEA in 2003 and chairing the organization in 2010, the host-country agreement signed is the result of a long-standing partnership between Mexico and International IDEA.

The sub-regional office in Mexico City will open in 2018 and work on strengthening sustainable democracy and democratic electoral processes in Mexico and the Central America and the Caribbean region. Key partners in these efforts will be the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Mexican Federation (TEPJF) and the National Electoral Institute of Mexico (INE), with whom International IDEA has an ongoing cooperation.

The Office will allow International IDEA to support national capacities by providing training and assistance to institutions involved in the democratic process. It will also provide a platform for knowledge exchange and discussion about key issues in strengthening democracy, such as electoral integrity and electoral justice. The opening of the office in Mexico City will facilitate increased collaboration with Mexico ahead of the key upcoming elections in Mexico in 2018.