By Ahmed Ruhayem.
Benghazi, 11 February 2013:
A new Libyan political grouping, the National Consensus Party has been formed. Younis Fannush, member of . . .[restrict]the founding board, told Libya Herald today: “This undertaking has been twenty years in the making, back when I was working in exile within the framework of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya. It is only through organised and collective actions that a nation can protect itself from the dangers of dictatorship and tyranny.”
Fannush had originally established his own party, the Democratic Libya Gathering in December 2011. This has now become part of the National Consensus Party. It was through this party that the idea of creating a national union across Libya was formed and later adapted by Mahmoud Jibril, said Fannush. The DLG participated in the coalition of the National Forces Alliance, but.he explained, political disagreements forced it to withdraw from Mahmoud Jibril’s coalition before the General Congress elections in July 2012. The seven parties that left the National Forces Alliance are now the basis for the National Consensus Party.
After the Congress elections, explained Fannush “we had numerous internal discussions and a comprehensive review of our accomplishments. We also took part in several rounds of dialogue and consultations with a number of political parties and independents,resulting in an agreement to coordinate our efforts and establish a single political party. Merging the parties gives us the political force and capability to compete in the next round of national elections.”
The National Consensus Party recently organised meetings which included other political parties to develop a common position on demands that Congress give a timetable for establishing the Libya’s constitution and adhere to it; that the local government law be speeded up; a national authority be set up to look into the distribution of economic institutions across country based on economic realities and the implementation of laws prohibiting the carrying of arms.
The National Consensus Party, said Fannush, was continuing its efforts to gain support and raise its profile across the country, in preparation for the launch of its first conference this March, to adopt of its political programme and elect the party leadership.
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