**Executive Summary**
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, delivered an address at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) in Stockholm on December 4, 2025. He assumed Chairship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026. The address highlights India's democratic values, electoral scale, and vision for its International IDEA Chairmanship.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Round-table Discussion:**
* Shri Gyanesh Kumar participated in a round-table discussion at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) on the topic "Inside India's Democracy."
* **International IDEA Chairship:**
* CEC Gyanesh Kumar assumed Chairship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026.
* India's Chairship is recognized as globally significant.
* India will steer the Council's work under the theme "Democracy for inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world."
* India will focus on "Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy."
* Mauritius and Mexico will become Vice Chairs of International IDEA for 2026.
* **India's Democratic Scale and Experience:**
* India has over 900 million electors across 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
* The 2024 General Elections saw participation from over 20,000 candidates representing 743 political parties and involved over 20 million election personnel.
* India has witnessed 18 general elections to Parliament and more than 400 to State Legislatures since 1947.
* **Commitment and Vision:**
* India will share learnings of its democracy, values and principles.
* India will endeavor to ensure every vote counts and democracies become more inclusive.
**Impact Analysis**
**International IDEA Council**
* **Impact:** The Council will operate under India's Chairship with a focus on its defined themes, with India leading the direction and priorities.
* **Action Required:** Align ongoing and future work with India’s chairmanship theme: “Democracy for inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world" and the two pillars - "Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy."
**Election Commission of India**
* **Impact:** ECI’s global recognition and role in promoting India's democratic values and election management expertise.
* **Action Required:** Steer Council's work in line with the identified theme and focus.
**Other Member States of International IDEA**
* **Impact:** Other member states will be affected by India’s new direction for the Council’s Work.
* **Action Required:** Adapt projects and objectives in line with the Chairship's defined themes, contributing to and collaborating on the council’s goals.
**Sweden (as Host)**
* **Impact:** Acknowledgment of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) as an important institution for democratic discourse.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly mentioned.
Key Entities Referenced
International IDEA: The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental organization that aims to support sustainable democracy worldwide.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Chief Election Commissioner of India, assuming the Chairship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA.
Election Commission of India: Recognized for its role in election management.
Stockholm: Location of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) where CEC Gyanesh Kumar delivered his address.
Election Commission
CEC Gyanesh Kumar delivers address at the
Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) in
Stockholm
प्रव तथ: 04 DEC 2025 5:11PM by PIB Delhi
Begins tenure as Chair of Council of Member States of International IDEA
1. Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar today held a round-table discussion
themed on the topic ‘Inside India’s Democracy’ at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI)
in Stockholm, Sweden today. Former Foreign Minister of Sweden, Ms. Ann Linde was the other
speaker in the round-table.
2. CEC Gyanesh Kumar had assumed the Chairship of the Council of Member States of International
Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026 yesterday.
He will conclude his official visit of Sweden later today.
3. India’s Chairship marks a significant milestone, reflecting global recognition of the Election
Commission of India as one of the world’s most credible and innovative Election Management
Bodies (EMBs). India, a founding member of International IDEA, has consistently contributed to
the organisation’s governance, democratic discourse and institutional initiatives.
4. Upon his arrival in Stockholm, CEC Gyanesh Kumar was received by the Ambassador of India to
Sweden, Sh. Anurag Bhushan. He also had a discussion with the Secretary-General of IIDEA, Dr
Kevin Casas-Zamora.
5. In his acceptance speech at Stockholm, Sweden, CEC Kumar highlighted the scale of India’s
democratic exercise, noting that India has over 900 million electors across 28 states and 8 Union
Territories.
6. Reflecting upon the 2024 General Elections, he informed that India witnessed a breathtaking
democratic spectacle where over 20,000 candidates from 743 political parties, including 6 national
and 67 state parties, participated. Over 20 million election personnel including over 1 million Booth
Level Officers and 5 million polling staff were engaged in the exercise.
7. Observing that India has seen 18 general elections to Parliament and more than 400 general
elections to State Legislatures since independence in 1947, CEC stated that India envisions to share
with all not only the learnings of the world’s largest, the most diverse and inclusive modern
democracy, but also the democratic values and principles deeply enshrined in India’s civilizational
heritage.
8. Affirming the direction ahead, CEC pledged that India’s Chairmanship will be decisive, ambitious
and action oriented. As Chair, Shri Gyanesh Kumar will steer the Council’s work around India’s
overall theme for the Chairship – “Democracy for inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable
world” and focus on two key pillars namely - Reimagining Democracy for the Future and
Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy.
9. The CEC concluded his acceptance speech by stating that India will endeavour to ensure that every
vote counts, every voice matters and that democracies worldwide become more inclusive, peaceful,resilient and sustainable.
10. Alongside India in the Chairship, Mauritius and Mexico will take over as the Vice Chairs of the
International IDEA Council for the year 2026.
*****
PK/GDH/RP
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