New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) CEC Gyanesh Kumar, who arrived in Sweden a day earlier, commenced his official engagements prior to taking on the Chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on Wednesday. He met with the Committee on the Constitution at the Swedish Parliament and engaged in discussions focusing on various dimensions of democracy.

“CEC Gyanesh Kumar engages with the Committee on the Constitution at the Swedish Parliament; discussing multiple facets of democracy,” stated the ECI on X.

Previously, the CEC unveiled a plaque at the International IDEA Headquarters in Sweden and held a meeting with Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA.

The CEC is set to assume the Chairship of IIDEA during the upcoming Council of Member States meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.

As Chair, he will oversee all council meetings throughout the year 2026.

Founded in 1995, International IDEA is an inter-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing democratic institutions and processes globally. It currently comprises 35 member countries, with the United States and Japan acting as observers, and focuses on promoting inclusive, resilient, and accountable democracies.

“This Chairship represents a significant achievement, showcasing global acknowledgment of the Election Commission of India as one of the most reliable and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide,” the ECI highlighted in an earlier press release.

As a founding member of IIDEA, India has consistently played a pivotal role in the organization's governance and democratic dialogue.

“In his role as Chair, the CEC will utilize India’s unparalleled experience in conducting the world’s largest elections to influence IIDEA’s global agenda. This collaboration aims to enhance knowledge-sharing, strengthen professional networks among EMBs, and support evidence-based electoral reforms globally,” the ECI stated.

As the world’s largest electorate, comprising nearly a billion voters and possessing well-documented transparent electoral processes, India aims to share its best practices with EMBs worldwide over the coming year.

Since its inception, IIIDEM has been training election officials both domestically and globally. To date, IIIDEM has established MoUs with 28 countries and has trained over 3,169 officials from around 142 countries.

Under the leadership of the CEC, IIDEA and ECI will collaborate closely to document and promote ECI’s technological and administrative innovations and best practices on an international scale.