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"Democracy is impossible without transparency and citizen participation," the
Organization of American States’ (OAS) Acting Secretary General, Luigi Einaudi,
reiterated November 9 as he opened the Fourth Meeting of the Inter-American
Forum on Political Parties, in Brasília, Brazil.
The OAS official also underscored the importance of such issues as public financing of political parties, transparency requirements, enforcement mechanisms and access to the media.
"The ebbing public confidence many parties have encountered in recent years is very troubling," Einaudi told some 140 political party leaders attending the three-day forum.
He observed that "in several countries, parties have not kept up with changes in communication or have seemed unresponsive to popular needs."
He also stressed the need for political parties to give more priority to increasing the participation of women, youth and ethnic minorities, adding that these population segments "can increase electoral success of parties."
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Brazilian Senate, Eduardo Siqueira Campos, described the meeting of political party leaders from around the Americas as a demonstration of solidarity and unity to promote the building of societies that are more just, democratic and free.
João Paulo Cunha, President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, reiterated the OAS Acting Secretary General’s remarks about the need for stricter oversight of election campaign financing and political party financing.
Cunha also cited the efficiency of Brazil’s electoral system and the importance of policy reform to strengthen political parties in Brazil and the rest of the hemisphere.
Discussions at the Brasília Forum on Political Parties revolve around four main issues: political parties in the crossroads of economic and social development; the challenge of representation and inclusion; the ethics and practice of campaign and political party finance; and country case studies of recently enacted reform in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.
The main objective of the Forum is to facilitate the development of a hemispheric agenda for reform and modernization of political parties and party systems.
Organization of American States
www.oas.org
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