International Democracy Union
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The International Democracy Union (IDU; known as the International Democrat Union until September 2023)<ref name="renaming Instagram video">Template:Cite Instagram</ref> is an international alliance of centre-right to right-wing political parties.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Headquartered in Munich, Germany,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the IDU consists of 84 full and associate members from 65 countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is chaired by Stephen Harper, former prime minister of Canada. It has three affiliated international organizations (International Young Democrat Union, International Women's Democracy Union and SME Global)<ref>SME Global — Small Business. Big Impact. Retrieved 9 February 2022.</ref> and six affiliated regional organizations (Union of Latin American Parties, Asia Pacific Democrat Union, Caribbean Democrat Union, Democrat Union of Africa, European People's Party and European Conservatives and Reformists Party).
The IDU allows "centre-right" conservative political parties around the world to establish contacts and discuss different views on public policy and related matters. Their stated goal is the promotion of "democracy and [of] centre-right policies around the globe".<ref>IDU — History. Retrieved 9 February 2022.</ref> The IDU has some overlap of member parties with the Centrist Democrat International (CDI), but the CDI is more centrist, Christian democrat and communitarian than the IDU.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The group was founded in 1983 as the umbrella organisation for the European Democrat Union (EDU), Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU), and the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU). Created at the instigation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush, the organisation was founded at a joint meeting of the EDU and APDU in London, United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Founding
The IDU was founded in London on 24 June 1983.<ref name="IDUFoundingMeetingMinutes_1983">Template:Cite web</ref> According to Richard V. Allen, to be admitted as a member, a party must qualify as a "mainstream conservative" party influenced by classical liberalism.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The founding declaration was signed by 19 persons:<ref name="IDUFoundingMeetingMinutes_1993">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
History and activities
According to a 1985 CIA memo, the Republican Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan had provided half of all funding for the organization at the time.<ref name=":99">Template:Cite web</ref> Several leaders of member parties had gained political power with help from Arthur J. Finkelstein, such as Viktor Orbán,<ref name=":147">Template:Cite news</ref> Benjamin Netanyahu<ref name=":147" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Donald Trump.<ref name=":56">Template:Cite web</ref> The IDU shares resources with its members on "campaign technology, fund-raising techniques, opinion polling, advertising and campaign organization".<ref name=":146">Template:Cite web</ref> The Conservative Party of Canada and the Republican Party had closely collaborated on resources and strategy during the 2000s and 2010s.<ref name=":146" />
Member parties
Full members
Former members
- Template:ARG – Justicialist Party
- Template:BIH – Party of Democratic Action
- Template:BIH – Croatian Democratic Union 1990
- Template:BOL – Nationalist Democratic Action
- Template:BRA – Democrats
- Template:BUL – Union of Democratic Forces
- Template:CAN – Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
- Template:DOM – Social Christian Reformist Party
- Template:FRA – Rally for the Republic
- Template:FRA – Union for a Popular Movement
- Template:GUA – National Advancement Party
- Template:HON – National Party of Honduras
- Template:HUN – Fidesz
- Template:IND – Bharatiya Janata Party
- Template:JAP – Liberal Democratic Party
- Template:LBN – Lebanese Forces
- Template:LIT – Homeland Union
- Template:MLD – Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova
- Template:MNE – Movement for Changes
- Template:NIC – Conservative Party
- Template:POR – Social Democratic Party
- Template:RUS – Union of Right Forces
- Template:SRB – Democratic Party of Serbia
- Template:SRB – United Regions of Serbia
- Template:KOR – Liberty Korea Party
- Template:ESP – People's Alliance
- Template:ESP – People's Democratic Party
Chairmen
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Since 1997, all Chairmen have been part of the Anglosphere (United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada).
Regional Unions
In addition to being members of the UDI, political parties can also be members of one of its regional unions:
- Unión de Partidos Latinoamericanos (UPLA): Union of Latin American Parties;
- Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU or UDAP): Democratic Union of Asia and the Pacific
- Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU or UDC): Caribbean Democratic Union
- Democrat Union of Africa (DUA or UDA): Democratic Union of Africa
- European Democrat Union (EDU or EDU): European Democratic Union
Direction
- President: Stephen Harper ( Conservative Party of Canada , 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015 )
- Vice-President: Brian Loughnane ( Liberal Party of Australia )
- Honorary President: Lord Michael Ashcroft ( Conservative Party of the United Kingdom )
- Executive Vice Presidents:
- Hon. Antonio Giordano MP (Fratelli d'Italia)
- Hon. Tundu Lissu (CHADEMA)
- Hon. Scott Morrison ( Liberal Party of Australia )
- Rt. Hon. Dame Priti Patel MP ( Conservative Party of the United Kingdom )
- Diego Schalper MP ( Renovación Nacional , Chile)
- David McAllister MEP (Christian Democratic Union)
- Vice-presidents:
- Marwan Abdallah ( Kataeb Party )
- Louisa Atta-Agyemang (New Patriotic Party)
- Governor Haley Barbour ( Republican Party )
- Hon. Deborah Bergamini MP ( Forza Italia )
- Deputy Minister Tasos Chatzivasileiou MP (New Democracy)
- Rt.Hon. Allen Chastanet MP ( United Workers Party )
- Hon. Judith Collins KC, MP (National Party)
- Dr. Rahhal El Makkaoui ( Istiqlal Party )
- Carlo Fidanza MEP ( ECR )
- Minister of State Florian Hahn MP ( Christlich-Soziale Union )
- Lord Daniel Hannan ( Conservative Party of the United Kingdom )
- Gabriel Mato MEP ( Partido Popular )
- Julian Obiglio (PRO)
- Marco Solares (Unionist Party)
- Majority Leader Jens Spahn MP (Christian Democratic Union)
- Commissioner Dubravka Šuica ( Hrvatska Demokratska Zajednic )
- HE Elbegdorj Tsakhiagiin ( Ардчилсан нам , Democratic Party)
- Political advisor: Eva Gustavsson ( Moderata Samlingspartiet , Sweden )
- Secretary General: Tina Mercep
See also
- Asia Pacific Democracy Union
- Caribbean Democrat Union
- Centrist Democrat International
- Conservative Establishment
- Democracy Union of Africa
- European Conservatives and Reformists Group
- European Conservatives and Reformists Party
- European People's Party
- International Women's Democracy Union
- International Young Democrat Union
- Political internationals: such as the Liberal International and the Socialist International
- Union of Latin American Parties
References
External links
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