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News & Updates
Press Release
IFES Condemns Arrest and Intimidation of Venezuelan Opposition Leaders
The following is a statement by Bill Sweeney, President and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), regarding the arrest and intimidation of several Venezuelan opposition leaders by the regime of President Nicolas Maduro.
News & Updates
Press Release
IFES Alarmed With Criminal Charges against Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado
WASHINGTON — (December 2, 2014) — The following is a statement by Bill Sweeney, President and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), regarding an order issued by the Venezuelan Attorney General’s office forcing local opposition leader and 2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award winner Maria Corina Machado to appear before prosecutors on December 3 to answer charges related to an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES’ Fifth Annual Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards Dinner
On October 1, 2014, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted the fifth annual Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards dinner. This year’s awardees included Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). IFES also honored Board of Directors Chairman Peter Kelly and Vice Chair William Hybl, who are stepping down from their leadership responsibilities after decades of service to not only IFES, but to the causes of freedom and democracy.
News & Updates
Feature
Celebrating the 2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards Dinner
On October 1, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) celebrated its fifth annual Charles T. Manatt Democracy Awards with a gala dinner and ceremony at the Washington, D.C. Marriott at Metro Center. This ceremony brings diverse groups of domestic and international leaders together who share a belief in advancing good governance and democratic rights by empowering and encouraging active citizen participation.
IFES presents the awards annually to three individuals who embody the character and spirit of former U.S. Ambassador and IFES Board of Directors Chairman Charles T. Manatt. This year’s honorees were Venezuelan opposition leader and Congresswoman Maria Corina Machado, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Machado was unable to attend in person due to an order by the Venezuelan government not to leave the country. Her son Henrique Sosa Machado and the former President of Colombia, Andres Pastrana, accepted the award on her behalf.
IFES presents the awards annually to three individuals who embody the character and spirit of former U.S. Ambassador and IFES Board of Directors Chairman Charles T. Manatt. This year’s honorees were Venezuelan opposition leader and Congresswoman Maria Corina Machado, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Machado was unable to attend in person due to an order by the Venezuelan government not to leave the country. Her son Henrique Sosa Machado and the former President of Colombia, Andres Pastrana, accepted the award on her behalf.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES 2014 Democracy Awards Dinner: Maria Corina Machado Acceptance Message
In a recorded message, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado accepted the 2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award and discussed the state of democracy in Venezuela.
News & Updates
Feature
An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election
On September 23, 2014, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted a conversation between IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney and the former Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India (ECI), S.Y. Quraishi. Sweeney and Quraishi discussed Quraishi’s book An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election, a first-person account of the recent electoral history of India and a must-read for those interested in understanding how the world's largest democracy works. Quraishi was also presented with the IFES’ prestigious Hutar Award, which honors those who express a commitment to improving democratic practices.
News & Updates
Feature
An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election
On September 23, 2014, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted a conversation between IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney and the former Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India (ECI), S.Y. Quraishi. Sweeney and Quraishi discussed Quraishi’s book An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election, a first-person account of the recent electoral history of India and a must-read for those interested in understanding how the world's largest democracy works. Quraishi was also presented with the IFES’ prestigious Hutar Award, which honors those who express a commitment to improving democratic practices.
During the event, Sweeney marveled at the immense technical undertaking of elections in India, noting that as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of India, Quraishi oversaw elections that involved over 11 million Indian government personnel. Indeed, elections in India generate both wonder and interest globally. Polls have been held at regular intervals in the country since independence, and on an unprecedented scale, surmounting the massive challenges posed by the geography of the land and the diversity of the Indian populace.
During the event, Sweeney marveled at the immense technical undertaking of elections in India, noting that as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of India, Quraishi oversaw elections that involved over 11 million Indian government personnel. Indeed, elections in India generate both wonder and interest globally. Polls have been held at regular intervals in the country since independence, and on an unprecedented scale, surmounting the massive challenges posed by the geography of the land and the diversity of the Indian populace.
News & Updates
Feature
Rep. Hoyer Recognizes 2014 Democracy Award Recipient Maria Corina Machado
The following is a statement by U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in the Congressional Record recognizing 2014 Democracy Award Recipient Maria Corina Machado.
News & Updates
Press Release
Venezuelan Opposition Leader to Receive 2014 IFES Democracy Award
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will honor Venezuelan opposition leader and Congresswoman Maria Corina Machado with its 2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award. Machado has been the target of numerous unproven accusations by the Venezuelan government and death threats since calling on citizens to publically demonstrate against President Nicolas Maduro.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Q&A with Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. SY Quraishi
As a former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. SY Quraishi has a deep understanding of the intricacies of how the world’s largest democracy works. He also has more than 35 years of experience in civil service. Dr. Quraishi is well known in India and abroad as a development thinker, for his inclusive style of leadership, and for bringing together wide varieties of groups and institutions to achieve the common objectives of development. In this Q&A, Dr. Quraishi discusses challenges the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces in preparing to conduct credible elections and shares lessons learned. India’s five-week general elections started on April 7.