The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

The 2000 national elections resulted in the first peaceful transfer of presidential power between parties since the nineteenth century as the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate conceded defeat. In 2006 elections, two former opposition parties – the National Action Party (PAN) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) – were the top two finishers in the presidential and legislative races. In the 2009 midterm elections, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) restored its congressional strength and governorships in various states. The political experience gained by the governing and opposition parties, coupled with reforms, has made Mexico’s political system more competitive and open.

Mexican political parties have made significant progress toward internal reform over the past several years but there are still a number of factors that inhibit the ability of parties and their parliamentary groups to fully represent citizen interests in Mexico. These include: few established mechanisms for public participation in the policy-making process; the lack of effective linkages between parties and civil society groups; a low level of women’s political participation; and the limited degree of internal democracy, outreach and accountability within parties. 

In 2004, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) established a field presence to work to address these concerns by helping to foster more accountable, responsive, transparent and effective political parties; strengthen the capacity of women candidates, party activists and leaders, and elected officials to compete in elections and govern effectively; and increase the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to engage and collaborate with political parties and governments in policy formulation.

Political Leadership Program

Promoting Women’s Political Participation

Support for Civil Society

Security Sector Reform

Past Programs

Contact Information

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