The International Democracy Union (IDU; known as the International Democrat Union until September 2023) is an international alliance of centre-right to right-wing political parties. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, the IDU consists of 84 full and associate members from 65 countries. 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) 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". 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.
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.
Contents
Founding
The IDU was founded in London on 24 June 1983. According to Richard V. Allen, to be admitted as a member, a party must qualify as a "mainstream conservative" party influenced by classical liberalism.
The founding declaration was signed by 19 persons:
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. Several leaders of member parties had gained political power with help from Arthur J. Finkelstein, such as Viktor Orbán, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. The IDU shares resources with its members on "campaign technology, fund-raising techniques, opinion polling, advertising and campaign organization". The Conservative Party of Canada and the Republican Party had closely collaborated on resources and strategy during the 2000s and 2010s.
Member parties
Former members
Argentina – Justicialist Party
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Party of Democratic Action
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatian Democratic Union 1990
Bolivia – Nationalist Democratic Action
Brazil – Democrats
Bulgaria – Union of Democratic Forces
Canada – Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Dominican Republic – Social Christian Reformist Party
France – Rally for the Republic
France – Union for a Popular Movement
Guatemala – National Advancement Party
Honduras – National Party of Honduras
Hungary – Fidesz
India – Bharatiya Janata Party
Japan – Liberal Democratic Party
Lebanon – Lebanese Forces
Lithuania – Homeland Union
Moldova – Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova
Montenegro – Movement for Changes
Nicaragua – Conservative Party
Portugal – Social Democratic Party
Chairmen
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
Leadership
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 of Germany)
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 (New Zealand National Party)