Lisbon, 15 of April 2016. The Centrist Democrat International (CDI) held today its executive committee in Lisbon. The meeting was chaired by the former President of Colombia Andrés Pastrana and the CDI Secretary General Antonio López-Istúriz. The discussions focused on the challenges the world is currently facing.
“Now more than ever, the CDI is an irreplaceable organisation to coordinate the answers of the center-right. Today, the members of the CDI discussed a vast array of issues including migration, the rise of populism, counterterrorism and the situation of Venezuela.
Only by abiding to our values will the center-right ensure the protection and well-being of the citizens,” declared Pastrana.
López-Istúriz stressed that terrorism, populism and migration are challenges that do not only affect Europe. “To tackle these issues, we need to cooperate not only between the EU Member States but also with our global partners internationally. Today’s meeting is an exemple of the center-right working at national, European and international level to deliver solutions.”
On the rise of populism, the CDI urges to counteracting this phenomenon by guaranteeing freedom, education and by providing truthful information to the citizens.
Concerning the migration flows, the members called for an inter-state collaboration to guarantee globally effective border controls and to combat the mafias and traffickers of humans beings.
The CDI assembly also raised the importance of protecting freedom of conscience and religion and condemned all forms of persecution of the Christians in the Middle East.
Regarding terrorism, the CDI highlighted that the exchange of intelligence and information between countries needs to be improved.
The political situation of Venezuela also featured prominently on the agenda of the meeting and the members of the CDI denounced the fact that there are still political prisoners in the country.

They also took the opportunity to congratulate the Movement for Democracy and Ulisses Correia e Silva for their victory at the last general elections in Cape Verde.
The CDI has also announced the presentation of a good government initiative for its parties members in government.