The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

In less than three weeks, Congolese voters are scheduled to go to the polls to vote in the nation’s second democratic elections. With more than 63,000 voter stations, 18,000 candidates and 32 million voters, the election will be a complicated exercise. The electoral period has been contentious. National and international organizations have expressed concerns about increasingly acrimonious political climate, and called all parties to respect the process and reject violence.

On Nov. 25, more than 14 million Moroccans went to the polls to elect the first Parliament under the new Constitution ratified on July 1. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), the moderate Islamic party, will have the largest presence in the new Parliament with 107 of the 395 seats. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has formally asked the PJD to form the new governing coalition, a process that is now underway. Over the past two decades, Morocco has demonstrated its commitment to democratic reforms.

Two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, what do Russians, Ukrainians, and Lithuanians think about the direction of their countries and the state of their politics? A panel of experts led by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright will discuss a new Pew Research Center report on public opinion in the three former Soviet republics.

A 21-member delegation of senior political party leaders from Kenya is visiting Washington during the week of December 5th to explore the operations of political parties within a bicameral legislative system and the roles of the majority and minority in the U.S. Congress. The delegation includes a Deputy Prime Minister, three cabinet-level ministers, five members of parliament including two government whips and the leadership of seven political parties in Kenya.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack will speak about recent elections in the Arab Spring region during a Woman’s Democratic Club luncheon.

Time & Date: Thursday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.

Location: 1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Cost: $10 (lecture only)

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