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The infiltration of organized crime in Latin America poses a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law across the region. Through illegal contributions to political parties and electoral campaigns, criminal organizations buy influence and corrupt officials at all levels of government. In this virtual event, co-hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue’s Rule of Law Program and International IDEA, experts examined the impact of illicit money on campaign finance and proposed strategies to enhance traceability of political funding, aiming to counter the influence of organized crime.
Kevin Casas-Zamora, general secretary of International IDEA, opened the event by discussing the factors that leave Latin America vulnerable to illicit campaign financing, including the pervasive presence of organized crime, intense electoral competition, and the structural weaknesses of political parties. “Today, organized crime is arguably the greatest threat to democracy in Latin America,” Casas-Zamora warned, noting that these groups seek both influence and impunity.
During the panel discussion, Giannina Segnini, an investigative journalist and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, pointed out that illicit financing extends beyond direct cash donations, encompassing the hiring of firms to manipulate campaigns with misinformation and microtargeting. “In every Latin American country, these groups are moving public opinion at a low cost through covert, unregulated contributions,” she explained.
Santiago Corcuera, president of Argentina’s National Electoral Chamber, emphasized that the issue of illicit funding is both cultural and societal, underscoring the role of investigative journalism and an engaged civil society. “Without an informed citizenry that questions the source of campaign funding, we only see part of the problem,” he said. Carla Humphrey, electoral councilor and head of the Oversight Commission of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute, highlighted the need for international standards to support early detection of illicit funding. “This is happening concurrently across various countries, so we need more efficient and agile communication between nations,” she stressed. Antonio Parra, director of Inspection and Surveillance at Colombia’s National Electoral Council, reviewed the gaps in Colombia’s campaign finance legislation, noting that while control mechanisms exist, weak penalties and lack of education hinder enforcement. “Candidates need training on accurately reporting their funds so that real-time audits can be conducted,” he pointed out.
Marcela Ríos Tobar, International IDEA’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, concluded by emphasizing the need to strengthen oversight at the local level, particularly in coastal and decentralized areas. “Local vulnerabilities remind us to reinforce decentralized oversight and control mechanisms, as the political decentralization process in Latin America has created significant exposure to illegal economies and organized crime,” she emphasized.
