| Parliament name |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
25 June 2014 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
All candidates stood as independents in the 2014 elections to the House of Representatives (HoR), unlike the July 2012 elections, where candidates could also be submitted by political parties.
The HoR is an interim legislative body that replaces the previous interim parliament, the General National Council (GNC). The GNC initially voted in December 2013 to extend its term beyond its scheduled end in February 2014. However, following street protests against the extension, the GNC decided to organize elections to the HoR in June.
The majority system was used for the 2014 elections, replacing the mixed electoral system used in 2012. 32 of the 200 seats are reserved for women.
Amid violence, only 1.5 million of some 3.5 million eligible voters registered to vote in 2014, a sharp decrease from the 2.7 million registered in 2012. Even so, turnout of registered voters dropped from 62% in 2012 to 42% in 2014.
As all candidates ran as independents, election campaigning was low profile. 41 candidates were rejected by the Public Official Standards Commission, set up in accordance with the Political Isolation Law, which bans former officials of the Gaddafi regime from holding public office. In all, 12 seats were not filled, and the High National Election Commission (HNEC) stated that it did not have a remit to hold new elections for these seats.
The HoR elections followed those to a 60-member Constituent Assembly (CA), held in February 2014. The latter, which was convened in April, is due to draft a Constitution within 18 months of that date.
In June, the government decided that the HoR should be based in Benghazi - the cradle of the 2011 uprising which toppled Col. Muammar Gaddafi's regime - instead of the capital Tripoli. Government officials explained the move was a part of efforts to rebuild state authority in the underdeveloped east. However, due to security concerns, it held its first session in eastern city of Tobruk on 4 August. This decision was contested by outgoing GNC Speaker Nouri Abu-Sahmayn, who organized a handover ceremony in Tripoli attended by GNC members and some HoR members.
The HoR should, amongst others, decide the mode of designation of an interim President within 45 days of its first session and promulgate the new Constitution once the draft has been approved by a two-thirds majority in a referendum (see note). Within 30 days from the date of promulgation of the new Constitution, the HoR will issue an electoral law that will be used to elect a new parliament. Parliamentary elections will be held within 120 days thereafter. The new parliament will be convened within 30 days from the approval of the final results by the HNEC. The first session of the new parliament will dissolve the HoR.
Note on the referendum:
Once the draft constitution is finalized by the CA, it will be submitted to a referendum within 30 days. If approved by a two-thirds majority of voters, the HoR will promulgate the new Constitution. If rejected, the CA will re-draft the constitution and put it again to referendum within 30 days from the announcement of referendum result. |
Date of previous elections: 7 July 2012 (General National Congress)
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 4 August 2014*
*The day when the GNC handed over its power to the HoR.
Timing of election: N/A
*Parliamentary elections were due to be held in 2013. Elections to another interim parliament, HoR, were held in 2014 instead.
Expected date of next elections: April 2016
Number of seats at stake: 200 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 1,714 (1,562 men, 152 women*)
*149 women ran for 32 seats reserved for women while three stood for general seats.
Percentage of women candidates: 8.9%
Number of parties contesting the election: N/A (Candidatures must be submitted by individuals)
Number of parties winning seats: N/A
Alternation of power: N/A (transitional period)
Number of parties in government: N/A
Names of parties in government: N/A
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 4 August 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Aguila Saleh Iissa |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 25 June 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
1'509'128
630'000 (41.75%)
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Notes
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Approximate figures for the number of voters. |
| Distribution of votes |
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Round no 1
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| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
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% of votes |
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| Distribution of seats |
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Round no 1
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| Political Group |
Total of seats
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| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
158
30
15.96%
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| Distribution of seats according to age |
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| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
Sources:
UNDP in Libya (10.08.2014)
http://hnec.ly/?p=6207&lang=en |
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