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"Politics, Money and Power: a Dilemma for Democracy": II Latin American Forum of Democracy in the region

- Organized by the OAS, IFE and IDEA International
- Participants include José Miguel Insulza, Bill Richardson, Martin Torrijos, Luis Castiglioni, among others

The complexity of the relationship between politics and money in a democratic system, that can rise a series of questions related to inappropriate use of political funding, the loss of confidence in the system, the legitimacy of the access to government and the inappropriate relationship between democracy and money, which has the potential to become the first piece of a domino effect that can impact an entire political system, are the focus of the report "Politics, Money and Power: a dilemma for democracy", prepared by the Organization of American States (OAS) and to be presented at the Second Latin American Democracy Forum, to be held on December 6 to 8, 2011 at the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City.

The report discusses, among other issues, the impact of citizens' demands and the influence of money in politics; the effectiveness of regulations on political finance and the consequences of not having enough rules on this matter; equal electoral opportunities; democracy and media pluralism; the impact of crime-related money and the discrimination of women in political financing. In general, the paper addresses the relationship between politics and money in a democratic system, and explores how this link can lead to significant distortions that are the cause for improper use of political funding and loss of social confidence in democracy.

The document states that "Latin-American democracy suffers various threats, ranging from the possible inclusion of money in politics without adequate transparency and regulation mechanisms, to security issues where power limit the application of development policies to improve the living conditions of the region". In that context, it considers that these challenges, at times, "undermine the authority of the State and cause a decrease in its ability to be a sovereign authority over the various factors of power".

"Money and financing of political parties, campaigns, propaganda, are all issues linked in an abstract way, not to money, but to the interests that money represents. These interests can, and often do, outweigh the general expression of the popular will while on equal terms of competition," says the report's executive summary, which will be the basis for discussion at the meeting in Mexico, organized jointly by the OAS, the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) of Mexico and IDEA International.

This Second Forum will be a space for discussion and dialogue on current and future problems faced by democracies in the region. Three topics will be discussed, "Politics, Money and Power", developed in detail through debates that will discuss: financing and its relation to politics; political parties, the media, and social inequality; and the crisis of legitimacy of democracies. The event will also serve to take stock of the achievements and accomplishments of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 2011.

Among confirmed participants are renowned politicians, diplomats and journalists such as José Miguel Insulza, OAS Secretary General; Martín Torrijos, former President of Panama; Carlos Mesa, former President of Bolivia; Luis Castiglioni, former Vice President of Paraguay; María Paula Romo, Congresswoman from Ecuador; Otilia Lux de Coti, Congresswoman from Guatemala; Marcelo Ebrard, Head of Government of Mexico City; Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, USA; Leonardo Valdes, President of IFE; and Daniel Zovatto, IDEA Regional Director, among other academics and experts in the field.

The first Latin American Democracy Forum took place on October 11 – 14, 2010 in Mexico City, and served as a space to present different testimonies on the state of democracy in the region. On that occasion, two reports were presented: "Our Democracy" prepared by the OAS and the UNDP, and the "Survey on Governance and Democratic Coexistence," by the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO).

WHAT: Second Latin American Democracy Forum: "Politics, Money and Power”

WHEN: December 6 to 8, 2011

WHERE: Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso

Justo Sierra 16, Centro Historico

Mexico City (Mexico)

Reference: E-972/11