Elections are just around the corner in Libya – just days
away! Or are they? People speculate whether they will happen on time, or be
delayed, or possibly not happen at all. Personally, I am not sure what to think
anymore. Some people I spoke to said they never bothered to register to vote.
They didn’t think it would make a difference.
There are plenty of candidates, but none of them seem to
have any particular platform. Initially there were 98 candidates, but the
number has dwindled to thirteen, maybe fourteen, the last time I checked. There
hasn’t been much in the way of campaigning. Are there any rules? Some on the
list of candidates look like the who’s who of corruption and war criminals.
There are also two women running, one’s an activist and the other a political science
researcher. Most are running as independents.
If all goes according to plan, the first round of the
election process will be on December 24th. If none of the candidates achieve the simple majority
of 50 percent or more, then a second round will take place a month later on
January 24th. The winner will hold the presidential seat for a fun-filled, five-year term.
