Organisation
Club de Madrid: the network of democratic former presidents and prime ministers
Club de Madrid is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organisation based in Madrid whose members are democratic former presidents and prime ministers. They serve pro bono, using their experience to support democracy, strengthen democratic institutions and advise on political crises. The organisation also uses the name World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM).
Origins: the 2001 Madrid conference
Club de Madrid was founded in October 2001, following the Conference on Democratic Transition and Consolidation in Madrid. The conference was organised by the think tank FRIDE and brought together 32 current and former heads of state and government with more than 100 experts. The first secretary general, Antonio Álvarez-Couceiro, was a co-founder of FRIDE.
Members
As of May 2025, Club de Madrid had 127 full members from 74 countries, all former democratic heads of state or government with voting rights. Members include five Nobel Peace Prize laureates and 23 women who were the first female head of state or government in their country.
| Region | Members |
|---|---|
| Europe | 60 |
| Americas | 26 |
| Asia-Pacific | 17 |
| Africa and Middle East | 17 |
| Total | 127 (some sources round to 120) |
Honorary members include Ban Ki-moon, Ángel Gurría, Enrique Iglesias, Javier Solana and Juan Somavía.
Presidents and secretaries general
| Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil) | first president, until 2006 |
|---|---|
| Ricardo Lagos (Chile) | 2006–2010 |
| Wim Kok (Netherlands) | from 2010 |
| Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (Latvia) | elected 2014 |
| Danilo Türk (Slovenia) | elected 2019 |
| Antonio Álvarez-Couceiro | 2002–2004 |
|---|---|
| Kim Campbell | 2004–2006 |
| Fernando Perpiñá-Robert | 2006–2010 |
| Carlos Westendorp | 2010–2016 |
| María Elena Agüero | since 2016 |
Vice presidents include Han Seung-soo and Michelle Bachelet. Presidents and vice presidents serve three-year terms, renewable once.
Governance and funding
- General Assembly: the highest body; meets at least once a year.
- Board of directors: manages the organisation under the General Assembly's direction.
- Advisory bodies: the President's Circle and an Advisory Committee of fellows.
- Secretariat: day-to-day management, led by the secretary general.
- Funding: donations support the permanent Secretariat and projects. Accounts are audited externally every year and published. In the United States, the Club of Madrid Foundation Inc. (COMFI), a 501(c)(3) grant-making foundation, raises funds for the organisation.
What Club de Madrid does
The work centres on two areas: democratic leadership and governance, and response to crisis and post-crisis situations. Its main instrument is dialogue, above all the Annual Policy Dialogue, alongside policy labs, country missions and public statements. Examples of positions include support for constitutional reform in Haiti, calls for an international COVID-19 fund for the Global South, and a 2024 open letter to the G20 in favour of taxing the super-rich.
Frequently asked questions
When was Club de Madrid founded?
In October 2001, after the Conference on Democratic Transition and Consolidation held in Madrid.
Who are the members of Club de Madrid?
Democratic former presidents and prime ministers. As of May 2025 there were 127 full members from 74 countries.
Who is the president of Club de Madrid?
Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia, was elected president in 2019. Check clubmadrid.org for the current officeholder.
Is Club de Madrid the same as WLA-Club de Madrid?
Yes. World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM) is a name the same organisation used, including on the dialoguescdm.org event sites.
How is Club de Madrid funded?
Through donations for its Secretariat and projects; its accounts are externally audited every year and published.