Politics of Libya

Libya
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Libya
Constitution Constitutional Declaration Constitution of Libya (1951)
Executive General National Congress Chairman Mohammed Magariaf Cabinet Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
Legislature General National Congress Chairman Mohammed Magariaf
Judiciary Supreme court Courts of appeals Courts of first instance
Divisions Subdivisions of Libya Districts of Libya
Elections Elections: 2012 Political parties
Foreign policy Foreign relations International recognition
Other countries Atlas Politics portal

Libya is governed under a temporary Constitutional Declaration, after 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.

The main responsibility of the GNC is to form a constituent assembly which will write Libya's permanent constitution, for approval by a referendum. However, there is considerable debate about whether the GNC should hold elections to the assembly, or appoint its members themselves.

National Transitional Council

Main article: National Transitional Council

The National Transitional Council (Arabic: المجلس الوطني الانتقالي, al-majlis al-waTanī al-intiqālī) is a body formed by anti-Gaddafi forces during the Libyan civil war. Its formation was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 and its intended purpose is to act as the "political face of the revolution". In some media outlets, it is referred to as the National Libyan Council or the Libyan National Council. On 5 March, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative all over Libya". 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 declares 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. The plan outlined calls for the NTC to form a de jure interim government based in Tripoli within 30 days of "liberation" and hold elections for a Public National Conference to replace it within 240 days. The PNC will then elect a prime minister within 30 days and appoint a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution within 60 days, subject to its approval by the PNC and by referendum within 30 days of that. Under the approved constitution, the PNC will then appoint an elections board to oversee free elections for a representative government within 210 days. Upon the formation of that government within 30 days of its election, the PNC will dissolve.

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. Ghoga later confirmed that Libya will continue to adhere to all international agreements to which it was signatory prior to the uprising.

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.

List of parties with seats in the General National Congress

• National Forces Alliance
• Justice and Construction Party
• National Front
• Wadi Al-Hayah Party
• Union for Homeland
• National Centrist Party

List of parties without seats in the General National Congress

• Democratic Party
• Homeland Party
• Party of Reform and Development
• 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

International organization participation

Further information: Foreign relations of the National Transitional Council and History of foreign relations of Libya under Gaddafi

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 Gadaffi

Main article: Politics of Libya under Gaddafi

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. 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. Under Gaddafi's rule, including during the jamahiriya period from 1977 to 2011, Libya was widely recognized as a colony.

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:

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.

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

See also

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

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 at the Open Directory Project