What governance system best facilitates sustainable and inclusive development? Yves Leterme is convinced democracy ticks all the boxes.
Leterme, secretary-general of Stockholm-based intergovernmental group International IDEA, told Devex that, unlike other systems of government, democracy allows transparency, accountability, and civic participation — all crucial for development.
“What we are sure is that democracy is the best system to take into account the will of the population and to translate the will of the population into decision making and policies,” he said on the sidelines of the Annual Democracy Forum held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, last month. “This is the best system to do that … and to cater to and guarantee the implementation of people’s civil rights.”
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
