NED Chair: CSOs engaging in political competition, party activity lose their essence

Kenneth Wollack, Chair of the US-based non-governmental organization National Endowment for Democracy, has addressed concerns over the funding of political parties through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Georgia on Wednesday and emphasized NED’s commitment to supporting civil society organizations rather than political parties.

Wollack’s remarks came in response to allegations of political funding schemes involving NGOs in the country. He claimed NED did not provide funding to political parties and maintained transparency in its program finances.

“Civil society groups certainly have the right to be engaged in the political process. If they are part of political parties, they are not civic organizations, if they compete for political power or they are engaged in party activity, then they are not civil society organizations”, Wollack noted.

He reiterated that NED’s mission was to support civil society organizations, not political parties. “If a civil society organization decides to transition into a political party, NED will not provide support. There is no evidence that any of the organizations we support financially are funding political parties”, he asserted.