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Internal democracy of liberal political parties

Dennis Hesseling & Lousewies van der LaanAbidjan, 21/10/2012

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• Introductory Session• Focus: candidate selection• Group discussions

Workshop Outline

Introduction topic, trainers and group

Focus: candidate selection

Group discussions

• Education: • PhD in mathematics

• Political activities (voluntary):– Former president and international officer Jonge Democraten (young

democrats D66)– Former D66 candidate at the national parliament (2 times)– Trainer in Morocco, Tunesia, Mali, Burundi, Kenya, South Africa– Observer at elections in Paraguay– Former Board member “International Democratic Initiative” D66 Professional career :– Management consultant at McKinsey, Brussels – Competition Authority, Netherlands

Introduction Dennis Hesseling

Introduction Lousewies van der Laan

• Education: – International Baccalaureate (UNWC American West) – Law Degree (University of Leiden)– Degree in International Economics (John Hopkins University)

• Political activities & Professional Career:– Joined D66 in 1993– Ran for EP in 1994 (13th place on list)– Elected to European Parliament in 1999

• Delegation leader, vice-president committee on civil Liberties, justice and home affairs, member of delegation for relations with Palestinian Parliament, founder campaign for Parliament reform

– Elected to Dutch Parliament in 2003– Became party leader in March 2006 after leader had to resign over Uruzgan (until November 2006, when did

not stand for re-election)• Top woman and nr 2 on national list• Deputy party leader, spokeswoman international relations, human rights, justice, police equal opportunities, chair Technology committee,

vice-chair Europe committee

– Lost leadership election June 2006, brought down Dutch government July 2006 (after ministerial abuse of power)

– Chief of staff President of the International Criminal Court– Independent advisor on human rights, rule of law and democracy

D66: social liberals• Politics should promote individual

development• Combination of individual liberty and

solidarity• Open and pragmatic approach

• Member of LI and ELDR

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Coalition politics in the Netherlands

D66 focused on democratization

Referendum Direct elections for prime minister and mayorElectoral system based on constituencies

Highest organ of the party: general assembly– One party member one vote– Group members have the right of initiative and amendement– Election of members of the national bureau– Determination of the electoral program

Elections for candidates for parliamentary elections Identical structures on local and regional levels

• Your name, your party name, your country, position within the party

• One strong point of your party vis-à-vis internal democracy

• One question vis-à-vis internal democracy

Participant introduction

Questions?

Introduction topic, trainers and group

Focus: candidate selection

Group discussions

• Improve quality of ideas and people• Mass mobilisation (especially among youth)• Strengthen party organisation and build geographic spread• Identify dissent (avoid Malema-like situations)• Training of new party cadre and culture of grass roots

engagement • Limit floor-crossing and ensure internal party discipline

• Drawbacks: sharing power, may lose internal vote

Why internal democracy?

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Level

Subject

Local Regional National

Change of leader

Candidate selection Focus of

today

Determining the

political program

Applicability of internal democracy

• The best politicians?

• Necessary knowledge for parliamentary work (e.q. judicial, financial, etc.)?

• A representative of

• Regions?

• Male - female? N.B. Quota by law?

• Young - old?

• Ethnicities? N.B. Representation by law?

• Particular groups (e.g. workers)?

• An effective group collaboration?

What is the desired effect of the electoral list?

• The party’s national bureau?

• All party members?

• A representation of the members (e.g. at the party congress)?

• Non-party member role?

Can be differentiated according to level (national/regional) and position (top of the list/other positions)

Who decides on the electoral list?

Party CongressLibDems, UK

September, 2012

• The electoral law and the electoral code

• The party rules

• The culture/country of the party

• The logistical/financial possibilities

• The available time

Factors to consider in the decision making process

Scheme of the options

Low High

Practical options (time, logistics)

Lo

wH

igh

Dem

ocr

atic

leve

l

• On the right to vote

• On the process

• On the decision making process

• On the delays

• And... always in advance!

Transparency is crucial!

Candidate selection procedure

• Call within / outside of the party

• To apply oneself, or • To be nominated by

someone / a party unit

• Official proposal form, within the specified period

Candidate

nominationList presentation Decision

• Composed by the national bureau / an independent commission, or

• On alphabetical order, random beginning

• By vote• Always secret and anonymous• Always an independent voting

commission (≥3 persons)• Preserve voting cards in case

of objections

• Independent of the vote (including family)

• Knowledge of the party

• Political experience

• Authority within the party

• Discretion

Member profile of commission draft first list

• Established by the national bureau

• Written set of specifications, including special interests

• Specified period

• Process: in any case conversations with all candidates

• Results: an ordered list, including motivation

Obligation of the commission to propose a list

• Established in advance in writing and communicated to the party

• In case of a proposal list: vote on alternative propositions,starting with position no.1

• In case of absence of a proposal list: each person with the right to vote composes his ordered list

Methods of Decision

• Aim: to inform members who have the right to vote

• Desired result: a better list of candidates

• Good exercise for external elections

• Methods: leaflets, telephone, website, discussion at party congress, regional presentations etc.

Electoral campaign - internal!

• High integrity method and decision making

• Checks and transparency, before and during the process

• Honest campaign (positive vs. negative)

• Distance persons with a function within the party

• Public promises of candidates respecting the results of the process

• Inclusive attitude of the winner (e.g. Obama)

How to avoid conflicts?

Campaign material examples

Questions?

Introduction topic, trainers and group

Focus: candidate selection

Group discussions

• Input morning session

• Process: subgroups French/English

• Report back in plenary

To discuss