India Takes Helm of International IDEA Council to Strengthen Global Democracy

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India has assumed the leadership of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar formally took over the chairship in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday. As chair, Kumar will focus on the theme 'Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.' Mauritius and Mexico will serve as vice chairs for the year. Kumar outlined India's vision for the chairship, emphasizing a 'decisive, ambitious and action-oriented' approach. He highlighted two key areas of focus: reimagining democracy for the future and establishing independent and professional election management bodies for sustainable democracy. Kumar drew on India's vast electoral experience, noting that the country has over 900 million eligible voters across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. He also highlighted the Election Commission's nearly 75 years of experience in conducting transparent elections and maintaining accurate electoral rolls. During his acceptance speech, Kumar emphasized the importance of sharing India's institutional learnings and democratic principles with the global community. He committed to working closely with member states to strengthen electoral institutions and promote inclusive democratic processes worldwide. International IDEA's membership comprises 35 member democracies and two observer nations, including countries like Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, and South Africa, with a combined electoral roll of over 2.22 billion registered voters. Kumar's leadership aims to promote a more inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable world through strengthened democratic institutions and processes.