Political parties and democracy
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 2 October 2025
(35th sitting) (see Doc. 16248,
report of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, rapporteur:
Ms Ingjerd Schie Schou). Text adopted
by the Assembly on 2 October 2025 (35th sitting).
1. Democracy in Europe is in danger.
Across the continent, democratic backsliding continues, marked by the
corrosion of institutional checks and balances, restrictions on
media freedom, disinformation and foreign interference. It is manifested
in declining political participation, weakening public trust and
rising polarisation, which together erode the resilience of democratic
systems. Political parties stand at the centre of this crisis. Strong,
responsive and inclusive parties are not only vital for healthy
political representation but are also indispensable for confronting
these threats and safeguarding democracy.
2. The Parliamentary Assembly believes that political parties
are the cornerstone of representative democracy. They are the key
element of electoral competition; they articulate and aggregate
citizens’ preferences, channel demands into political institutions,
facilitate the formation of democratic government and enable the
peaceful alternation of power. Without political parties, pluralism
cannot be meaningfully represented and parliaments cannot function
effectively.
3. The Assembly considers that political parties, when they respect
democratic norms, foster open competition and act transparently,
are not only guarantors of representation but also the most effective
agents of democratic renewal in Europe.
4. Political parties play a fundamental role beyond electoral
processes. They serve as permanent institutions of democratic education,
socialisation and negotiation. By recruiting political leaders,
fostering civic skills and transmitting democratic values across
generations, they build and sustain the trust and legitimacy on which
resilient democracies depend. They are uniquely positioned to provide
structured forums for dialogue and deliberation, to mediate between
diverse social groups and to transform competing interests into
a coherent programme for government.
5. The Assembly observes, however, that political parties in
many Council of Europe member States face profound challenges. Long-term
decline in membership and active participation, combined with heightened electoral
volatility, indicates a weakening of traditional forms of political
attachment. Public opinion surveys consistently show that political
parties are among the least-trusted institutions, with many citizens
associating them with elitism, self-interest or corruption.
6. The erosion of trust has serious consequences. It fuels political
apathy, anti-party sentiment and the rise of anti-establishment
movements. Polarisation and political gridlock often stem from the
inability or unwillingness of parties to build consensus. When parties
fail to act as trusted bridges within society or are perceived as
unresponsive to the concerns and needs of citizens, democracy risks
becoming dysfunctional.
7. These challenges are unfolding within the broader context
of democratic backsliding across Europe, geopolitical pressures
and persistent attempts at foreign interference aimed at destabilising
democracies. At a time when public trust in institutions is fragile,
political parties bear a particular responsibility for safeguarding democratic
cohesion and stability. Their most basic commitment must be to uphold
the core principles of democracy, including free and fair elections,
respect for pluralism and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
8. The Assembly, in the fulfilment of its political mandate,
has consistently paid close attention to the state of democracy
and the institutions that sustain it. It welcomes the call by the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe for a New Democratic
Pact for Europe and underlines that political parties are an essential
motor for democratic renewal.
9. The Council of Europe, particularly through the European Commission
for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), has provided extensive
guidance on the regulation and functioning of political parties. Through
its Code of Good Practice in the field of Political Parties and
numerous opinions, the Venice Commission has underlined foundational
principles of transparency, fairness, pluralism and internal democracy.
These standards affirm that political parties must be able to operate
freely and independently, while at the same time remaining accountable
and respectful of democratic norms.
10. The Assembly considers that these principles remain indispensable
for restoring citizens’ trust in political parties across Europe,
and it is within this framework that it seeks to encourage further
modernisation, innovation and citizen engagement in party life.
11. By enhancing inclusive membership, participatory decision
making and ethical political communication, political parties can
reconnect citizens with political institutions and restore confidence
in representative democracy. Far from being obsolete, parties can
be the central actors in addressing democratic backsliding, rebuilding
trust and fostering a democratic culture adapted to contemporary
challenges.
12. In light of these considerations, the Assembly underlines
that trust must be a guiding principle of all party reform and calls
on political parties across Council of Europe member States to actively
demonstrate their integrity, accountability and responsiveness to
citizens’ expectations in order to reinforce their role as pillars
of both resilient democracies and democratic security in Europe.
13. In order to respond to citizens’ expectations, the Assembly
calls on political parties to reconnect with citizens by placing
social justice and equality at the core of their programmes, ensuring
that policies deliver measurable improvements in living standards,
access to quality healthcare, education, housing and decent work.
14. With regard to strengthening the representational link to
citizens, the Assembly encourages political parties to widen and
deepen opportunities for political participation by:
14.1 developing accessible and flexible
pathways for engagement;
14.2 adopting transparent and participatory mechanisms for
leadership and candidate selection;
14.3 strengthening intermediary structures, including local
branches, affiliated organisations, unions and civil society platforms,
to ensure citizens’ perspectives can inform and shape party direction;
14.4 enhancing and sustaining internal forums for deliberation
to foster dialogue, reflection and consensus building among members
and supporters.
15. To combat issues of under-representation, the Assembly urges
political parties to adopt concrete strategies for inclusion by:
15.1 integrating gender equality,
youth participation and diversity into party statutes, vision and strategic
plans;
15.2 establishing measurable objectives, targets and accountability
mechanisms to enhance progress on gender balance, youth involvement
and representation of minorities and disadvantaged groups;
15.3 exploring the application of inclusive procedures for
candidate selection and leadership recruitment, such as parity measures,
transparent quotas or other measures designed to widen participation;
15.4 ensuring diversity in electoral lists and leadership positions
through fair and transparent selection processes.
16. The Assembly further invites political parties to promote
diversity and inclusion across their internal functioning by:
16.1 developing support and capacity-building
initiatives for under-represented groups;
16.2 endorsing the revised Charter of European Political Parties
for a Non-racist and Inclusive Society;
16.3 establishing mechanisms to prevent and sanction hate speech,
incitement to hatred and discrimination by their members.
17. With regard to safeguarding integrity, the Assembly calls
on Council of Europe member States to:
17.1 fully implement recommendations by the Group of States
against Corruption (GRECO) on the funding of political parties and
electoral campaigns;
17.2 review and enhance national frameworks governing financial
contributions to political parties, advertising and electoral campaigns
to mitigate the risk of inappropriate or illicit foreign financial interference;
17.3 ensure effective monitoring and introduce clear sanctions
against illicit foreign funding.
18. The Assembly calls on political parties to strengthen internal
accountability by:
18.1 adopting
codes of conduct and conflict-of-interest rules for party officials;
18.2 establishing transparent disciplinary procedures to address
misconduct;
18.3 introducing clear rules on lobbying and relations with
donors to safeguard parties from undue influence.
19. In highlighting the role of political parties in sustaining
democratic culture, the Assembly:
19.1 calls
on political parties to recentre their role as platforms for dialogue
across social divides, promoting compromise and cohesion;
19.2 encourages political parties to provide spaces for democratic
education, debate and civic engagement;
19.3 in line with its
Resolution 2552 (2024) “Strengthening
democracy through participatory and deliberative processes”, calls
on political parties to foster more robust civic engagement with
deliberative technologies and participatory processes;
19.4 condemns political parties that, through their explicit
actions or votes, support military aggression against sovereign
States.
20. The Assembly recommends that political parties harness digital
tools and innovations responsibly by:
20.1 using online consultations, deliberative forums and transparent
digital primaries to widen citizen participation;
20.2 committing to ethical online campaigning, avoiding manipulative
micro-targeting and ensuring disclosure of digital advertising;
20.3 supporting digital literacy initiatives to help citizens
navigate the information environment.
21. As regards its own work, the Assembly, including through its
General Rapporteur on Democracy, resolves to:
21.1 continue actions to strengthen democracy, counter its
backsliding and promote innovative practices to enhance citizens’
trust in democratic institutions and their participation in political
decision making;
21.2 continue to review, in co-operation with the Venice Commission,
the Code of Good Practice in the field of Political Parties and
the issues raised in it, with a view to developing it further if
required.
