Iraq After Elections: Focus on the Constitution

Post-election Iraq will face a new political challenge: writing and adopting a constitution in accordance with the Transitional Administrative Law.

• What do the election results tell us about the prospects for writing a constitution by August 15 and having it approved in a referendum by October 15?
• How will the different coalitions approach constitutional issues? Will the coalitions that ran in the elections hold together in the Assembly?
• What kind of process is appropriate for writing a constitution in a war-torn society?
• What impact will the constitutional process have on the security situation and on interethnic relations in Iraq.

Speakers

• Ghassan al-Atiyyah
  Executive Director of Iraq Foundation for Development and Democracy and leader of the Iraqi Independent Block
• Jonathan Morrow, Program Officer, Rule of Law, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Nijyar Shemdin
  Representative of the Kurdish Regional Government in Washington
• Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie
  Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations and leader of the Patriotic Democratic Alliance (speaking in an unofficial capacity)
• Daniel Serwer, Vice President and Director, Peace and Stability Operations, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator

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