New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is poised to take over the leadership of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) today. The CEC will officially assume the Chairship during the Council of Member States meeting of International IDEA taking place in Stockholm, Sweden. In this role, he will oversee all council meetings throughout the year 2026.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated, “This is a significant global acknowledgment of the free, fair, and transparent elections conducted by the ECI and its dedicated election staff, as CEC Gyanesh Kumar steps into the Chairship of International IDEA on December 3, 2025, representing India in Stockholm.”

Founded in 1995, International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization focused on enhancing democratic institutions and processes globally. With 35 member countries and the United States and Japan as observers, the organization advocates for inclusive, resilient, and accountable democracies.

Since 2003, International IDEA has also held observer status in the UN General Assembly.

The ECI further noted, “This Chairship signifies a pivotal milestone, showcasing the global recognition of the Election Commission of India as one of the most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.”

As a founding member of International IDEA, India has played a vital role in the organization’s governance, democratic discussions, and institutional initiatives.

As Chair, CEC will utilize India’s unparalleled experience in conducting the largest elections globally to influence International IDEA’s global agenda. This collaboration will facilitate knowledge-sharing, strengthen professional networks among EMBs, and underpin evidence-based global electoral reforms,” the ECI added.

With nearly a billion voters and a well-structured electoral process marked by transparency, India aims to share its best practices with EMBs around the globe throughout the year.

“Collaborative programs, workshops, and research initiatives between the ECI’s training facility - India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) and International IDEA will further equip the global community to tackle challenges such as disinformation, electoral violence, and waning voter trust,” it continued.

Since its establishment, IIIDEM has been instrumental in training election officials both domestically and internationally. To date, IIIDEM has formed MoUs with 28 countries and successfully trained 3,169 officials from approximately 142 nations.

Under the leadership of the CEC, International IDEA and ECI will collaborate closely to document and share the technological and administrative innovations and best practices of the ECI on a global scale.

Importantly, CEC, along with fellow Election Commissioners, met with a delegation from International IDEA led by Secretary General Kevin Casas Zamora, Chief of Staff Jessica Kehayes, and Secretary (West) Sibi George at the ECI headquarters in New Delhi back in October.

This meeting followed CEC’s keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in June.