Improving transparency and democratic functioning of political parties focus of ODIHR seminar

Strategies to improve the internal democratic functioning of political parties were highlighted at an expert seminar organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 10 and 11 July 2013.

More than 50 experts from across the OSCE region discussed the different measures political parties can take to become more transparent and democratic in their work. They examined issues such as the registration of political parties, gender equality, public accountability and political party funding.

The experts also considered how to ensure the compliance of political party legislation with OSCE commitments on political pluralism and the separation of the state and political parties.

“Since political parties function as separate entities, but can also be a part of the state, they are too powerful to be left unregulated,” said Richard Katz, the Chairperson of the OSCE/ODIHR Core Group of Experts on Political Parties.

Thomas Vennen, the Head of ODIHR’s Democratization Department, said: “The role of political parties and their legitimacy is more and more shaped by the use of new media, and a stronger demand for direct popular participation. It is therefore important to review how regulations correspond to, and may be revised to meet these challenges.”

Following the seminar, the Core Group of Experts held their annual meeting to discuss the findings of the seminar, as well as other challenges and trends in political party regulation including bans on the use of totalitarian symbols by political parties and the legal status of opposition parties.

The Core Group of Experts was established in 2011 to support ODIHR in its work assisting participating States with legislation related to political parties, and ensuring compliance with relevant OSCE commitments and international standards.