102 Libyan Municipalities Conduct Council Elections

Fuente: 
Tripoli Post
Fecha de publicación: 
01 Dic 2013
The first in a series of elections across Libya were held Saturday in four towns in the south of the country and in the restive east to replace local councils set up after the 2011 revolution that ousted from power Muammar Gaddafi. 

The voting, considered as a test for the Libyan authorities, comes at a time of growing political tensions insecurity that have cast doubts over the ability of the interim government to complete Libya's transition to democracy.

These municipal elections follow the country’s first ever-voting process after more than four decades of dictatorial rule in July last year when the citizens were called upon to choose the General National Congress, the country's highest political authority.

The GNC was given an 18-month mandate to steer the country towards general elections after drafting a new constitution.

These elections that have taken place in Al-Baida and Shahat in the east of Libya, and in Tazerbou and Bent Baya in the south, are seen as a step in that direction. The country has been carved up into 102 municipalities to ensure decentralisation and to strengthen local governance.

Mahdi al-Bahloul, a member of the central committee in charge of the municipal elections, has been reported saying that a seven-member council was elected for each town, with a former rebel and a woman among the team.

The new councillors are to choose mayors and then dissolve the local councils set up after the revolution.

 
 

 

 

http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=10829