Politics of Libya - National Transitional Council

National Transitional Council

The National Transitional Council (Arabic: المجلس الوطني الانتقالي, al-majlis al-waTanī al-intiqālī) is a body formed by anti-Gaddafi forces during the Libyan civil war. Its formation was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 and its intended purpose is to act as the "political face of the revolution". In some media outlets, it is referred to as the National Libyan Council or the Libyan National Council. On 5 March, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative all over Libya". The council formed an interim governing body on 23 March. As of 20 October 100 countries declared full support to the council by severing all relations with Gaddafi's rule and recognizing the National Transitional Council as the rightful representative of Libya.

On 3 August 2011, the NTC issued a Constitutional Declaration which declares the statehood of Libya as a democracy with Islam as its state religion, in which the state guarantees the rule of law and an independent judiciary as well as civic and human basic rights (including freedom of religion and women's rights), and which contains provisions for a phase of transition to a presidential republic with an elected national assembly and a democratically legitimized constitution by 2013. The plan outlined calls for the NTC to form a de jure interim government based in Tripoli within 30 days of "liberation" and hold elections for a Public National Conference to replace it within 240 days. The PNC will then elect a prime minister within 30 days and appoint a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution within 60 days, subject to its approval by the PNC and by referendum within 30 days of that. Under the approved constitution, the PNC will then appoint an elections board to oversee free elections for a representative government within 210 days. Upon the formation of that government within 30 days of its election, the PNC will dissolve.

Vice Chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga declared Libya to be "liberated" on 23 October 2011, announcing an official end to the war. Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil said Libya would become an Islamic democracy in the wake of Gaddafi's death, though the extent of Islamic law's influence would be determined by elected lawmakers. Ghoga later confirmed that Libya will continue to adhere to all international agreements to which it was signatory prior to the uprising.

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