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Tripoli, 24 June 2013:
Congressman Safwan Milad, the only member of the Al Asala and Development Party and who was elected on . . .[restrict]the party list system for Tripoli’s Hay Andalus district, has declared himself a candidate for the presidency of the General National Congress. The vote to replace former Congress President Mohamed Magarief is due tomorrow. Today is the final day for candidates to submit nominations.
According to Solidarity Press news agency, Milad is campaigning on being able to represent youth. It says he has noticed that there is a technological gap at Congress and believes that involving young people who are more up-to-date with new technologies and management can help raise the performance of Congress, and increase communication among its members and the Office of the Presidency.
There is nothing on his Facebook page about his candidacy other than the Solidarity notice. However, comments on it, he says that he has only one interest which is to serve Libya and Libyans. He also claims he has no personal agenda and wants to ensure that no foreign governments meddle in Libya affairs.
As a Tripoli representative, Milad is not thought to have much of a chance of winning. The general feeling among most Congress member is that the president again needs to come from the east in order to reassure Libyans there that they are respected and valued. The National Forces Alliance has already said that it intends to vote for an easterner.
Front runners for the Presidency include Mousa Faraj Al-Zway from Ajdabiya, Sherif El-Wafi from Marj, Fawzi Al-Aghab from Shahat and Abdulmonem Wahaishi from Benghazi. [/restrict]
