During the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Mexico City, held from October 27 to 29, NDI President Ken Wollack met with the President of the Pan African Parliament, H.E. Roger Nkodo Dang, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU will enable the two organizations to coordinate more closely on a broad range of issues, including women’s and youth participation, good governance, rule of law and other areas of common interest.

Nearly six months after sustained citizen protests demanding increased government accountability for corruption, Guatemalans elected former comedian and actor Jimmy Morales to serve as the country’s next president last month. Campaigning with the slogan “not corrupt, not a thief,” political newcomer Morales defeated Former First Lady Sandra Torres with 67 percent of the votes in the October 25 run-off election.

Political parties around the world form coalitions for many  reasons: to improve electoral prospects, to form a majority for government or to usher their countries through periods of crisis. In a new NDI and Oslo Center publication, experienced political leaders who have worked in coalitions in their own countries share their perspectives on how to make coalition-building efforts successful.

Young, educated and urban residents in six countries in the Balkans show measurable support for LGBTI rights, but most respondents to a regional poll released by NDI today do not believe that LGBTI people should be able to live openly based on equal rights. The poll is a guidepost and a call to action to LGBTI groups seeking equal rights for their communities. NDI conducted the research as part of its commitment to more inclusive political processes, wherein all segments of society are able to influence decisions affecting their well being.