Free and fair elections are the heart of democracy. To keep them trustworthy, countries need clear rules, modern technology, and transparency.
Recently, Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and Panama’s Electoral Tribunal (TE) held a special knowledge-sharing program.
With the help of International IDEA, they exchanged ideas on how to use digital tools and oversight systems to improve elections. This cooperation highlights the growing importance of working together to protect democracy in Latin America.
Purpose Of The Mission
The exchange visit had a simple but powerful goal: to strengthen trust in elections. Both Peru and Panama are exploring better ways to:
- Increase transparency in political campaigns.
- Introduce digital platforms for monitoring.
- Share best practices to ensure fairness in future elections.
This kind of cooperation shows how regional partnerships can raise the standard of democracy.
Peru’s “Claridad en Línea” Platform
One of the most impressive parts of the visit was Peru’s presentation of its “Claridad en Línea” (Online Clarity) system.
- Launched in 2021, the platform lets political parties publish details of their income and expenses during campaigns.
- This gives citizens a chance to track how money is being used.
- The system also reduces corruption risks by making campaign finances public.
The ONPE team, led by Karina Rivera Bustamante, Luis Camino, and Jesús Alberto Félix Atuncar, explained how the platform is now a central pillar of Peru’s election transparency strategy. Panama’s officials showed strong interest in how it works.
Panama’s Digital Voting Experience
Panama shared its own achievements, focusing on its digital voting system that has been in place since 2014.
This system allows faster and more reliable results while reducing human errors.
During the visit, the Peruvian delegation learned about:
- The Center for Digital Studies and Monitoring.
- Panama’s successful experience with digital voting.
- The role of the Political Financing Oversight Directorate (DIFFPOL) in keeping elections fair.
These practices gave Peru a clear view of how digital systems can improve elections.
Key Learnings From Both Countries
Here is a simple table showing what both countries shared:
| Country | Shared Experience | Main Focus | Year Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | “Claridad en Línea” online portal | Transparency in campaign financing | 2021 |
| Panama | Digital voting system | Technology in elections and monitoring | 2014 |
Both countries learned new strategies that can help them strengthen public trust in democracy.
Future Plans For Cooperation
This was not just a one-time event. The exchange program will continue. A Panamanian delegation is scheduled to visit ONPE headquarters in Lima on October 6 and 7. The purpose of this follow-up visit is to:
- Consolidate the strategic alliance.
- Continue sharing technological innovations.
- Create a long-term plan for regional cooperation.
This means the partnership between Peru and Panama is only getting stronger and could influence other countries in the region.
The collaboration between Peru’s ONPE and Panama’s Electoral Tribunal proves that countries can achieve stronger democracies by working together.
Peru’s success with the Claridad en Línea platform and Panama’s experience with digital voting show how technology can make elections fairer and more transparent.
This partnership is not just about these two nations but sets a positive example for the entire region.
By continuing this cooperation, they are paving the way for elections that people can trust, ensuring democracy remains open, accountable, and strong.
