Politics of Libya

Libya
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Libya has been governed under a temporary Constitutional Declaration since the defeat of the previous government in the 2011 civil war. Under the Declaration, Libya is a parliamentary republic governed by the General National Congress (GNC), which was elected in July 2012. The executive branch is appointed by the GNC and led by the Prime Minister, while the President of the GNC is the de facto head of state, though not explicitly described as such in the Declaration.^[1]

The main responsibility of the GNC is to form a constituent assembly which will write Libya's permanent constitution, for approval by a referendum. The law of Libya is based on sharia.^[2]

Recent Changes

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 National Transitional Council (NTC), a body formed on 27 February 2011 by anti-Gaddafi forces to act as the "political face of the revolution", 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.^[3]

On 8 March, the NTC issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative all over Libya".^[4] The council formed an interim governing body on 23 March. As of 20 October 100 countries declared full support to the council by severing all relations with Gaddafi's rule and recognizing the National Transitional Council as the rightful representative of Libya.

On 3 August 2011, the NTC issued a Constitutional Declaration which declared the statehood of Libya as a democracy with Islam as its state religion, in which the state guarantees the rule of law and an independent judiciary as well as civic and human basic rights (including freedom of religion and women's rights), and which contains provisions for a phase of transition to a presidential republic with an elected national assembly and a democratically legitimized constitution by 2013. Vice Chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga declared Libya to be "liberated" on 23 October 2011, announcing an official end to the war. Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil said Libya would become an Islamic democracy in the wake of Gaddafi's death, though the extent of Islamic law's influence would be determined by elected lawmakers.^[5] Ghoga later confirmed that Libya will continue to adhere to all international agreements to which it was signatory prior to the uprising.^[6]

On 7 July 2012 an election was held for the General National Congress (GNC) to replace the NTC. There were 2,501 candidates for the 200 seats - 136 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 organized in European cities with larger Libyan communities like Berlin and Paris, in order to allow Libyan nationals there to cast their vote.^[7] On 8 August 2012 the NTC officially dissolved and transferred power to the General National Congress.

General National Congress

The General National Congress is the legislative authority of Libya. It was elected by popular vote on 7 July 2012, and from 8 August replaced the National Transitional Council that had governed the country since the end of the Libyan civil war.^[8][9][10] The General National Congress is composed of 200 members of which 80 were elected through a party list system of proportional representation, and 120 were elected as independents in multiple-member districts.^[11][12] On 9 August 2012, Congress members elected Mohamed Yousef el-Magariaf, leader of the National Front Party, as chairman for the GNC. Its term has been extended to the end of 2014.

Political parties and elections

On 7 July 2012, the Legislative body - the General National Congress - was elected.

List of parties with seats in the General National Congress

• National Forces Alliance
• Justice & Construction
• National Front
• Wadi al-Hiya Alliance
• Union for Homeland
• National Centrist Party
• Libyan National Democratic Party
• The Message
• The Foundation
• National Party for Development & Welfare
• Nation & Prosperity
• Authenticity & Renewal
• Authenticity & Progress
• Moderate Umma Assembly
• Libik Watani
• National Gathering of Wadi al-Shati
• Moderate Youth Party
• Libyan List for Freedom & Development
• National Coalition of Parties
• Libya the Hope
• Wisdom Party^[13]

List of parties without seats in the General National Congress

• Libyan Popular National Movement
• Democratic Party
• Homeland Party^[14][15]
• Party of Reform and Development^[16]
• Libyan Constitutional Union
• Libyan Amazigh Congress
• Alhaq and Democracy Party of Benghazi
• Libyan National Congress Party
• New Libya Party
• National Unity of Libya Party
• Freedom and Development Party of Libya
• The Patriotic Reform Party
• National Solidarity Party
• The Libyan National Party
• Umma Party
• Justice and Democracy Party of Libya
• Libya Future Party
• Libyan Center Party
• National Democratic Assembly for Justice and Progress
• Libya Development Party
• Libyan Universal Party
• National Democratic Alliance
• New National Congress Party
• Tawasul Party
• Libyan National Democratic Party for Justice and Development
• Libya Our Home and Tribe Party
• Libyan Liberation Party
• Libya for All Party
• Unity Movement
• Democratic Youth Party
• National Democratic Assembly
• Wefaq Party
• Libyan National Democratic Assemblage
• Ansar Al Horria
• Libyan Unionist Party^[17]

International organization participation

The National Transitional Council has pledged to honour Libya's international commitments until the 2012 elections.

Libya is a member of ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC (suspended), UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, UNWTO and UNHABITAT.

Libyan politics under Muammar Gadaffi

After originally rising to power through a military coup d'etat in 1969, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's governance of Libya became increasingly centric on the teachings of his Green Book, which he published in the mid-1970s chapter by chapter as a foundation for a new form of government.^[18] This jamahiriya, as he called it, was supposedly a form of direct democracy in which power was balanced between a General People's Congress, consisting of 2,700 representatives of Basic People's Congresses, and an executive General People's Committee, headed by a General Secretary, who reported to the Prime Minister and the President. However, Gaddafi retained virtually all power, continuing to operate and control vestiges of the military junta put in place in 1969.

Wanted figures

Interpol on 4 March 2011 issued a security alert concerning the "possible movement of dangerous individuals and assets" based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970, which imposed a travel ban and asset freeze. The warning lists Gaddafi himself and 15 key members of his government:^[19]

1. Muammar Gaddafi: Responsibility for ordering repression of demonstrations, human rights abuses. *Killed October 20, 2011 in Sirte*
2. Dr. Baghdadi Mahmudi: Head of the Liaison Office of the Revolutionary Committees. Revolutionary Committees involved in violence against demonstrators.
3. Abuzed Omar Dorda: Director, External Security Organisation. Government loyalist. Head of external intelligence agency.
4. Major General Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr: Defense Minister. Overall responsibility for actions of armed forces.
5. Ayesha Gaddafi: Daughter of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government.
6. Hannibal Muammar Gaddafi: Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government.
7. Mutassim Gaddafi: National Security Adviser. Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government
8. Al-Saadi Gaddafi: Commander Special Forces. Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government. Command of military units involved in repression of demonstrations.
9. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi: Director, Gaddafi Foundation. Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government. Inflammatory public statements encouraging violence against demonstrators.
10. Abdulqader Yusef Dibri: Head of Muammar Gaddafi's personal security. Responsibility for government security. History of directing violence against dissidents.
11. Matuq Mohammed Matuq: Secretary for Utilities. Senior member of government. Involvement with Revolutionary Committees. Past history of involvement in suppression of dissent and violence.
12. Sayyid Mohammed Qadhaf Al-dam: Cousin of Muammar Gaddafi. In the 1980s, Sayyid was involved in the dissident assassination campaign and allegedly responsible for several deaths in Europe. He is also thought to have been involved in arms procurement.
13. Khamis Gaddafi: Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government. Command of military units involved in repression of demonstrations.
14. Muhammad Gaddafi: Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government.
15. Saif al-Arab Gaddafi: Son of Muammar Gaddafi. Closeness of association with government.
16. Colonel Abdullah Senussi: Director Military Intelligence. Military Intelligence involvement in suppression of demonstrations. Past history includes suspicion of involvement in Abu Selim prison massacre. Convicted in absentia for bombing of UTA flight. Brother-in-law of Muammar Gaddafi.

The NTC has been in negotiations with Algeria and Niger, neighboring countries to which members of the government and defecting military commanders have fled, attempting to secure the arrest and extradition of Al-Saadi Gaddafi and others.^[20]

Of these officials, Baghdadi Mahmudi and Abuzed Omar Dorda were arrested,^[21][22] while Saif al-Arab Gaddafi was killed by a NATO airstrike during the war,^[23] Khamis Gaddafi was killed in action after the fall of Tripoli,^[24] and Muammar and Mutassim Gaddafi, as well as Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr, were killed during the fall of Sirte.^[25]

See also

• Green Resistance
• General People's Committee of Libya
• List of diplomatic missions of Libya

References

External links

• Gaddafi Plays Quietly, But He's Still in the Game," The New York Times, 17 March 1991
• Chief of state and cabinet members, CIA Factbook, as of 17 March 2010
• Libya Government on the Open Directory Project

v t e Elections and referendums in Libya General elections 1952 1956 1960 1964 1965 2012 2014 Next general election Local elections Misrata 2012 Benghazi 2012 Sabratha 2012 Referendums 1971 2014