On 15 June, IFES’ Chief of Party for Iraq, Sean Dunne, spoke on a panel presentation on Capitol Hill titled “Iraq after the March Elections.” Dunne spoke on Iraq’s progress in conducting elections and the challenges it faces in the months ahead. Specifically, he discussed shifts in voter priorities, evidences of increased political awareness of Iraqi citizens, and women’s participation. Comments from other panelists included the development of the concept of democracy in Iraq, its shifting political dynamic, and voter excitement on Election Day.
Organized by the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), other panelists included Bill Grant of the U.S. Department of State, Joshua Muravchik of Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute and the Honorable Jim Slattery (past president of the FMC) as the moderator. In attendance also was former Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly, a member of IFES’ Board of Directors and President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, an active member of the FMC having represented the 1st District of Connecticut for 17 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
During his stay in Washington, Dunne met with senior staff and members of the House of Representatives and Senate as well as the Congressional Research Service to discuss political developments in Iraq. In addition, he appeared on Connecticut’s Public Radio program (WNPR) with three other IFES Chiefs of Party titled “Where We Live.” Read more here.