Political Parties and Elections
Political parties were banned in Libya from 1972 until the collapse of the Gaddafi government, and all elections were nonpartisan under law. However, during the revolution, the NTC has made the introduction of multiparty democracy a cornerstone of its agenda. In June 2011, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said his father would agree to internationally monitored general elections, and would step down if he lost them, but his offer was refused by the rebels and ignored by the UN Security Council.
The NTC has said that it will organize elections by mid-2012. The foundation of the following political parties has been announced since the fall of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
On 7 July 2012, the Legislative body - the General National Congress - was elected. There are 2,501 candidates for the 200 seats - 136 of which for political parties and 64 for independent candidates. About 300 candidates' views were considered unacceptable and removed from candidates list, suspected of sympathizing with the defeated forces of the Jamahiriya. Accreditation centers have also been organised in European cities with larger Libyan communities like Berlin and Paris, in order to allow Libyan nationals there to cast their vote. Early results of the vote showed the National Forces Alliance (NFA) party as a front runner. The NFA is led by Mahmoud Jibril.
The General National Congress will choose the members of the Constitutional Convention.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of Libya
Famous quotes containing the words political, parties and/or elections:
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
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“Good parties create a temporary youthfulness.”
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“In my public statements I have earnestly urged that there rested upon government many responsibilities which affect the moral and spiritual welfare of our people. The participation of women in elections has produced a keener realization of the importance of these questions and has contributed to higher national ideals. Moreover, it is through them that our national ideals are ingrained in our children.”
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