Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What happened in Iraq’s 2005 elections and constitutional referendum?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Iraq War
U.S. soldiers in Sāmarrāʾ, Iraq.
In 2005, Iraq underwent significant political transitions aimed at establishing a new democratic framework following the 2003 overthrow of the Baʿathist regime.
- General Elections: On January 30, 2005, Iraqis participated in general elections to select members for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly. Despite ongoing violence, the election was successfully held, and in April, Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was elected president.1
- Constitutional Referendum: In October 2005, a national plebiscite was held to approve a new permanent constitution. While the document was passed, it faced significant opposition from Sunni Arabs, who voted against it out of fear that the new federal state structure would relegate them to a perpetual minority.21
- Outcome: The constitution established a parliamentary democracy with a ceremonial president and a prime minister as the head of government. Following a subsequent general election in December 2005, Nouri al-Maliki eventually formed a coalition government in 2006.21