“The main premise for the fifth symposium was the acknowledgement that political parties are the cornerstones of representative democracy. Political parties and party systems are necessary for functioning democratic governance systems, and appropriately designed political systems
that are free, open and rights-based help to enhance effective democratic governance.
Political parties are one of the primary institutional vehicles for political representation, interest aggregation and interest articulation. They are also constituent entities in the formation and
organisation of governments, as well as channels for maintaining oversight and demanding accountability from governments and those who hold formal power in society.”
