The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

The 2000 national elections resulted in the first peaceful transfer of presidential power between parties since the nineteenth century. In 2006 elections, two former opposition parties – the National Action Party (PAN) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) – were the top two finishers in the legislative and presidential races. The political experience gained by the opposition, coupled with reforms, has made Mexico’s political system – once dominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI) – more competitive and open.

However, there are still a number of factors that inhibit the ability of parties and their legislative groups to fully represent citizen interests in Mexico. These include: few established mechanisms for public participation in the policy-making process; laws prohibiting the consecutive reelection of public officials; the absence of established oversight mechanisms to promote accountability; the lack of effective linkages between parties and civil society groups; a low level of women’s political participation; and the limited degree of internal democracy, outreach and accountability within parties.

Since 2004, NDI has worked through its office in Mexico to address these concerns by working to strengthen the development of accountable, effective and representative political parties and entities. The Institute is helping to improve the capacity of civil society to engage political parties and elected officials; to strengthen the development of accountable, effective of representative political parties; and encourage effective democratic governance through a more informed and transparent policy-making process.

Political Leadership Program

Promoting Women’s Political Participation

Support for Civil Society

Past Programs

Contact Information