Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Sustainable Democratic Dialogue achieved

The working of the Forum and its commissions, including the Commission on Political Studies (IMEP), promoted dialogue between party representatives and ensured joint learning when realizing activities together. In this regard, the use of the democratic dialogue methodology is very important as it promotes participants to go beyond making statements but really opening up to each other to come to a higher level of understanding. One of the tangible fruits of this dialogue is the approval of the new Organic Law of Congress in November 2008, opening the way for an improved level of transparency in political decision-making and fundamental in the process of achieving a strong, independent and functional Congress. 

Multiparty Dialogue Platform (PFPP's) functioning well

NIMD facilitated meetings of the Permanent Foro of Political Parties (PFPP) and its commissions to establish and implement their annual plans. Year plans for the PFPP and the commissions were established. Difference existed between the commissions when it came to implementing the plans. The commissions on Security, Youth, Full Citizenship of Women and Regional Integration were most successful. The fact that the PFPP started only late in 2008, as a result of the political changes due to the elections, and the organizational set-up of the PFPP, made that PFPP had lost some of its political leverage, but during a seminar to revise on the PFPP and its functioning, all political parties reiterated their support to the PFPP and the importance the PFPP has for the parties. 

IMEP institutionalized

The proposal on how to institutionalize IMEP was finalized. However, as a result of political discussion, the members of the PFPP and their representatives in Congress decided to give IMEP a more solid base by establishing it as part of the Electoral Tribunal. This would also evade questions on who manages the IMEP financial resources, as this is a delicate question in Guatemala. NIMD thus facilitated meetings between the IMEP commission and the Congress commission on Reform of the Political Party and Electoral Law. The Congress commission then decided to include in the proposed amendments of the Party Law the foundation of the IMEP integrated in the Electoral Tribunal. If the amendments are accepted, the IMEP will become a state organ, ensuring its sustainability. 

Functional development of the Congress realized

At the end of 2008, congress approved the new interior law for congress, thus contributing to better functioning and improved accountability of the legislative power. This was the result of NIMD´s intervention during the past four years to promote a New Organic Law for Congress. NIMD´s support consisted of making available interior legislation from other countries, providing comparative analysis, and technical assistance (including from the Netherlands). One of the effects of the new law was the strengthening of the unit of permanent technical support staff.

Successful transition from old to new government realized

NIMD was actively involved in the handover from the old to the new government. The information sharing and handover did take place, though later in the year it turned out that the old administration had not handed over all information, but had hided financial deficits.

Democratic quality of multiparty political system improved

The democratic quality of the political system was gradually improving due to enhanced skills by congress members and continuous amendments in legislation to strengthen the multiparty system. The decentralisation process also contributed to a better spread of the multiparty political system over the territory. When it comes to an inclusive party system, important changes could be seen at local level, where above all indigenous people increasingly were chosen for political posts. These changes at municipal level were however not yet reflected at national level where participation of women, youth and indigenous people remained low due to the vested interests of the current political elite.

Inclusiveness of women, youth and indigenous peoples achieved

NIMD facilitated the FPP commissions on Youth and Full citizenship of Women. The Full Citizenship of Women commission was active in successfully promoting the Law on Violence against Women by working together with the Congress commission for Women and with civil society organizations. As a result a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the commission of the PFPP and the commission of Congress in order to jointly promote a legislative agenda on gender issues. The Youth commission was very active in the preparation and follow up of the II Youth Congress and its recommendations were presented to the political parties and to Congress. Youth from Dutch and El Salvador political parties enriched the congress with their experiences on how to promote youth to become political active and how to promote a policy agenda representing youth interests. In addition, women, youth and indigenous populations participated actively on municipal level in the Shared Municipal Agendas and action plans. On municipal level an increase could be seen in participation of indigenous populations, but at national level, the participation of these groups remained low, due to established interests of the current political parties.

Consensus reached on departmental development

The Departmental Fora (Alta Verapaz and Chimaltenango) managed to maintain the experience of the democratic dialogue methodology by establishing an organisational link with the original drafters of their Shared Departmental Agendas. Both Fora became the main reference for political debate and policy within their departments. 

Policy development within parliament improved

NIMD provided technical assistance for the use of prospective analysis methodology by commissions in Congress. When the financial crisis of Congress occurred, the prospective analysis methodology showed members of congress the different scenarios, one of them being how to improve the image of Congress. Amongst other actions, Congress members adopted as a matter of national urgency the new interior law of Congress.

Monitoring study on the performance of political parties finished and published

The NIMD-Soros Study, ¨Seven ways to change¨, analysed the effects of the changes in the Political Party and Electoral Law and contributed with recommendations to the political debate on how to further strengthen the political parties and the party system. The study was the fruit of the decision of the NIMD programme to enter into a consortium with other organizations involved in the analysis of the Electoral and Political law, using and complementing the ASIES study. The NIMD-Soros study was used by the commission of Congress in charge of electoral reform, and various of the recommendations of the study were proposed by the commission for the next amendments in the Political Party and Electoral Law.

Improved functioning of social democracy

In the course of 2008 social democracy got a serious impulse by setting a new, significant step towards the establishment of a Social Economic Council in Guatemala. It proved that it was possible for normally antagonistic sectors to find common ground. The NIMD programme expects the unfolding of those achievements in 2009, although it is not an easy process as different sectors have different interests and are not used to discuss their opinions openly to come to joint agreements.

Discussion and dialogue process facilitated between social partners

The need for a long term social economic policy was initially voiced by members of Congress, when they got to know the Dutch SER during a visit to the Netherlands. From then on, NIMD has facilitated exchange visits of the unions, the entrepreneurs and government officials to get familiar with the Social Economic Councils in the Netherlands and in Spain. This resulted in a commitment from those sectors and governmental support. During 2008, a Social Economic founders group has been established involving unions, entrepreneurs and cooperatives. This founders group is now in the process of consolidation and is headed by the former president of the Central Bank of Guatemala, Sosa. Although Guatemala does not yet have its SEC, a significant development towards the establishment of a SEC took place in 2008.
 

More public support for democratic process as result of more political accountability

A baseline study on the perception of the population on the Shared Municipal Agendas and their results is currently carried out. The data are however not yet available.

Organisational capacity of political parties at local level and their relation to the needs of civil society reinforced.

The performance indicator for this expected result that was talking about scores in organizational assessment, turned out to be too ambitious and also not well adapted to the reality of political parties. That is why the NIMD programme looked at the municipal agendas as basis for empowerment of local authorities, local political parties and deputies, and dialogue between national, departmental and local levels. In the process of establishing the Shared Municipal Agendas, representatives of civil and political society at local level expressed their main issues and concerns regarding their municipality. After discussing the various topics, the people involved established their Shared Municipal Agendas i.e. they concretized the content of the agendas and prioritized the subjects most important to them. Prioritization took place in the 27 municipalities.

Local security situations better controlled

In various municipalities, representatives of political and civil society prioritized security as one of the main issues to be addressed. In these municipalities they got technical assistance by receiving all relevant data of their municipality regarding security, and guidance how to define an action plan to improve this situation. Security is prioritized by department. In 2008, 4 departments received guidance on this issue. One department is about to join. In each department 3 municipalities are involved with the Shared Municipal Agenda. The actual action plans will be developed in 2009.