The political framework of Libya

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

Chairman of the Presidential Council: Mohamed al-Menfi (since 15 March 2021)
Prime Minister: Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh (since 15 February 2021)

Next Election Dates

The country's legislative elections were scheduled to be held on 21 December 2021. However, on that day, the head of the High National Election Commission (HNEC) ordered the dissolution of the electoral committees nationwide, which led to the indefinite postponement of the elections.
New parliamentary elections were scheduled to be held in 2022, however, on 23 January 2022, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh called for a constitution to be established before holding the delayed presidential and parliamentary elections. Since then, the voting has not taken place and both elections have also been postponed indefinitely.

Main Political Parties

Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) was formed as an interim institution in the aftermath of the civil war. GNA has faced competition from the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA), despite having been recognised by the UN as the legitimate ruling body. In March 2021, the House of Representatives, previously loyal to the LNA, approved the formation of a Government of National Unity, which has the task of unifying two rival forces.

The largest political forces in the country include:
- National Forces Alliance (NFA): liberal, moderate coalition comprising at least 58 parties, holds almost half of parliamentary seats
- Justice and Construction Party (JCP): right-wing, abstains from government, large Muslim Brotherhood faction, Islamist, can no longer operate openly
- National Front Party: centre-left, liberal, progressive
- Union for Homeland: centre, localist, populist
- National Centrist Party: centre, nationalist, Islamic democracy, Islamic liberalism
- Homeland Party: conservative, Islamic democracy.

Executive Power

Previously, the Libyan regime and, in particular, its political and economic system, was based on the Green Book, the founding work of Colonel Gaddafi, who saw in this book a third universal theory of synthesis between liberalism and Marxism.

Since the civil war and the political change that followed, the UN recognised the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate governing authority for Libya until an interim government is in place. The TNC was followed by the Government of National Accord (GNA), which has faced competition from the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA), despite having been recognised by the UN as the legitimate ruling body. In March 2021, the House of Representatives, previously loyal to the LNA, approved the formation of a Government of National Unity, which has the task of unifying two rival forces.

Legislative Power

Previously, the legislature was unicameral in Libya. The parliament consisted of the General People's Congress (GPC). Its members were elected representatives (called secretaries) of around 600 local bodies called ‘basic popular congresses', and served a term of four years.

The High Council of State acts as an advisory body aiming to reunite the Tripoli-based government with the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. The Council is able to advise both the interim Government of National Accord (GNA) and the House of Representatives (HoR), and its 145 members were appointed by the remaining members of its predecessor, the Libyan General National Congress.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

165/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political Freedom:

7/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House