# Elected leaders join the International Democracy Fellowship at the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group

- Link: https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/02/elected-leaders-join-the-international-democracy-fellowship-at-the-institute-for-global-affairs-at-eurasia-group/
- Published: 2026-02-26T14:08:13-05:00
- Author: Sasha Benke

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**NEW YORK, NY — **The Institute for Global Affairs (IGA), a nonprofit research 
and public education organization focused on geopolitics and founded by Ian Bremmer,
today announced the selection of ten elected officials for its 2026 International
Democracy Fellowship.

The [International Democracy Fellowship](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/projects/international-democracy-fellowship/)
brings together elected leaders with fewer than ten years of experience from around
the world who are responding in innovative, practical ways to democratic challenges
within their own political realities. Rather than promoting a single model of democracy,
the program examines how democratic practice functions within each country’s specific
political environment — including how elected leaders operate at the local or national
level, how systems of checks and balances function in practice, how disinformation
affects public trust, and how public institutions respond to new technologies.

“We are proud to welcome this group of leaders,” said [Rudina Hajdari](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/about/team/rudina-hajdari/),
Acting Program Director. “Through this fellowship, we are exploring innovative ways
to elevate locally grounded solutions and draw on the expertise and knowledge of
elected officials across five continents. The goal is practical collaboration — 
sharing what works and what does not — so leaders can strengthen their effectiveness
within their own political environments through peer-led, experience-based exchange.
The urgency of today’s challenges requires leaders who are willing to engage seriously
in this kind of practical collaboration to improve democratic practice within their
respective countries.”

**Meet the 2026 Fellows**
The 2026 Fellowship cohort includes a distinguished group
of elected officials representing multiple regions and levels of government:

 * **Sahar Albazar** — Member of Parliament, Egypt
 * **Bilal Bilici** — Member of Parliament, Turkey
 * **Sebastian Burduja** — Member of Parliament, Romania
 * **Sam Cho** — Port Commissioner, United States
 * **Janusz Cieszński** — Member of Parliament, Poland
 * **Khatia Dekanoidze** — Former Member of Parliament, Georgia
 * **Manuel Morales Díaz** — Member of Parliament, Costa Rica
 * **Ernest Imamović** — Mayor, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 * **Meekail Naseem** — Member of Parliament, Maldives
 * **Thokozani Tembo** — Deputy Minister / Member of Parliament, Malawi

**Meet the Jurors**
The fellowship selection committee, composed of globally recognized
practitioners and experts in political leadership and democratic governance, evaluated
applications and selected the final cohort. Jurors include:

 * **Ilker Barburoglu** — Founder & CEO, MedTrade Energy & Commodities
 * **Obiageli Ezekwesili** — President, Human Capital Africa
 * **Jonah Fisher** — Senior Director, Atlantic Council
 * **Beatriz Merino** — Former Prime Minister of Peru
 * **Jonathan Moore** — Former U.S. Ambassador & Head of Mission, OSCE
 * **Christopher Schroeder** — Chairperson, German Marshall Fund
 * **Akira Tsuchiya** — President & CEO, The Global Institute

The jury’s expertise — spanning international governance, civic innovation, institutional
reform, and leadership development — helped identify leaders whose work advances
democratic practice in diverse political environments.

The 2026 [International Democracy Fellowship](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/projects/international-democracy-fellowship/)
runs for six months from **February through July 2026**, featuring structured virtual
sessions designed to spotlight each fellow’s work and facilitate deep exchange across
political systems and regions.

“At a time when democratic institutions are being tested around the world, the need
for principled, courageous leadership has never been greater,” Hajdari added. “The
urgency of this moment demands leaders who are willing to do that work together.”

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

_Rudina Hajdari_
_Acting Program Director_[_hajdari@instituteforglobalaffairs.org_](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/02/elected-leaders-join-the-international-democracy-fellowship-at-the-institute-for-global-affairs-at-eurasia-group/hajdari@instituteforglobalaffairs.org)