Constitutional Assembly elections took place in Libya on 20 February 2014.[1] Nominations for elections to the constituent assembly started on 6 October 2013;[2] registration for candidates to the assembly was over as of 11 November 2013.[3] The assembly will be composed of 20 members each from Libya's three regions: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan.[2] The work of the committee is expected to last from March 2014 until July 2014.[4] The constitutional declaration submitted in August 2011 by the formerly ruling National Transitional Council indicated that Congress itself would appoint the commission; however the General National Congress (GNC) voted instead to hold an election for the selection of individuals to the constitutional commission.[5] The constitutional commission will draw up the constitution, which will then be up for vote in a referendum.[6] As of early January 2014, 1,001,910 voters had registered via SMS.[7]
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya has once again offered to support the electoral process, as they did with the GNC election that occurred in 2012.[8]
Electoral law
editA three-man committee was appointed by the GNC on 13 February 2013 to draft the electoral law.[9] The committee's three members represent each of Libya's historical regions; Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan, and it will also be backed by an advisory council taking one representative from each of Libya's 13 electoral constituencies.[9]
Campaign
editThe elections are being boycotted by the Berber and Toubou ethnic groups, although 14 Toubou candidates registered to run in the elections.[10] The Tebu National Assembly announced in April that they would run for seats.[11]
Re-runs in some areas had to be held on 26 February 2014 due to difficulties on polling day.[1] An election also took place for five Tebu seats on 26 April 2014 and for another two seats in Obari on 3 May 2014, leaving six Amazigh seats unresolved.[11]
Results
editOn 26 February 2014, preliminary results for 10 constituencies across Libya were released, relating to 39 seats in the Constitutional Assembly.[12] The results for 47 of the 60 seats were released on 2 March 2014.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b Elumami, Ahmed (21 February 2014). "Election re-runs next Wednesday says Elabbar". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Constitutional assembly candidates being registered". Libya Herald. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Registration closes for constitution committee candidates – 681 registered". Libya Herald. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "GNC votes to extend its life another year". Libya Herald. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Congress opts for an elected Constitutional Commission". Libya Herald. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Muammar Gaddafi's death: NTC commander speaks". BBC. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "Over one million register for constitutional elections on final SMS registration day". Libya Herald. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "UN welcomes decision on formation of constitution-drafting body". United Nations. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ a b Toler, Lorianne Updike (13 February 2013). "Members of Electoral Committee approved". Libya Herald. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Tebus announce boycott of Constitutional Committee elections; Tuareg split". Libya Herald. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Constitutional Assembly elections re-run in Obari". Libya Herald. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ "HNEC announces preliminary results for 39 Constitutional Committee seats". Libya Herald. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ Elumami, Ahmed (2 March 2014). "HNEC announces results for Constitutional Committee elections". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 3 March 2014.