THE MIDEAST IN THE NEWS

The Significance of Libya’s Results

This article, written by Paula Mejia, appeared on The Majalla on July 23,2012

Confirming unofficial results, it has been confirmed that Libya’s voters have not gone the way of the Tunisia and Egypt. While the Arab Spring appeared to have led to a resurgence of Islamic-affiliated parties in the region, Libya is now the exception. Though Libya is fairly conservative Muslim country, Libya’s citizens instead chose the National Forces Alliance, the party headed by former interim government leader Mahmoud Jibril.

Following a number of delays and recounts, the National Election Commission announced that the National Forces Alliance party has won 39 of the 80 seats reserved for political parties in Libya’s 200 member General National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood’s affiliated party, the Justice and Construction party, won 17 seats, less than half of the secular party. Interestingly, even more conservative Muslim parties had a more difficult time securing votes from conservative Libyans. The al-Wattan party for instance failed to win a single seat.

The significant victory of the National Forces Alliance party has been attributed to its leadership. Headed by the former leader of Libya’s first interim government, Mahmoud Jibril, many Libyans have come to associate the party with the type of change that led to the revolution in the first place. In addition, Jibril’s former experience as a member of Libya’s economic development board has helped brand the party as a source of knowledge regarding the types of economic reforms the country will need to implement in its efforts to reconstruct the post-war economy.

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*Photo Credit: United Nations Development Programme