The roundtable aimed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including constitutional experts, policymakers, academics, judges, practitioners and researchers, all interested in the complexities of comparative constitutional law, to discuss the findings of three research papers by identifying obstacles to constitutional implementation in Lebanon, Iraq, and Tunisia and assessing how these could be overcome. The aim of the project was for the papers and the conference to spark a serious debate about the issue and pave the way for it to become an integral consideration in future constitution-building and -implementation.
Mr. Philipp Bremer, Director of the Rule of Law Programme Middle East & North Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) commenced the roundtable with opening remarks, introducing the audience to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and its programs in Lebanon and the region. Mr. Bremer stressed the importance of the constitution as the basic reference for all legislation and laws, as it determines the nature of the state and its political and economic systems and regulates its powers, in addition to the rights and duties of rulers and the governed. He added that the enforcement of the constitution's provisions is the cornerstone of consolidating the rule of law.
The roundtable encountered three sessions:
First session: Tunisia: The Constitution of January 27, 2014: from Leadership to Crisis moderated by Dr. Tamara El Khoury. The speaker was Dr. Jinene Limam, University Professor, Researcher and Author, Tunisia. The commentator was Dr. Salsabil Klibi, University Professor, Researcher and Author, Tunisia.
Second Session: Lebanon: The Constitutional Experience Under the “Za’im” System moderated by Dr. Tamara El Khoury. The speaker was Dr. Wissam Lahham, University Professor, Researcher and Author, Lebanon. The commentator was Dr. Rizk Zgheib, University Professor, Lawyer in Appeal, Lebanon.
Third session: Iraq: The Constitution of the Republic of Iraq for the Year 2005: Between the Failed Establishment and the Reform Requirements moderated by Dr. Tamara El Khoury. The speaker was Dr. Hassan Al-Budairi University Professor, Researcher and Author, Iraq. The commentator was Dr. Mireille Najm-Checrallah, Member of the Constitutional Council, University Professor, Lebanon.
All sessions - presentations and comments - were followed by a roundtable discussion and wrap-up conclusions.
About this series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.