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By Ahmed Elumami.
Tripoli, 14 January 2013:
Political activist, Amal Al-Taher El-Haj has put her name forward to the General National Congress as . . .[restrict]a candidate to succeed Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, if he falls victim to a vote of no confidence.
El-Haj, is a 45 year-old Human Resources professional who trained as an English teacher at Tripoli university. Before the Revolution, she worked at the Libyan-Italian advanced technology helicopter assembly line in Suq Al-Hamiss. She is now a board director at the Free Communications Organisation
El-Haj said it was Zeidan himself who had inspired her candidacy.
“The main reason I nominated myself “ El-Haj told the Libya Herald, “is that the prime minister said that if anyone feels that he or she is qualified, they should submit their papers to the congress”.
El-Haj stressed that she was a great admirer of Margaret Thatcher and the prophet’s wife Asayda Ayshe.
“However, I believe that I have the determination, the plan and the ability, with the support of the GNC to work efficiently”. She said she wanted to work in cooperation with the congress.
News of her candidacy has produced widespread comment on social media. She said that she had received messages of support from more men than women. She had not herself begun putting together a campaign team, but discovered that willing volunteers have come forward who are already at work on her candidacy.
“There are some good men and women in the present government” she said, “I would not rule out having any of them in my administration.
“My vision will be called ‘Hope after Pain’ “. (Her first name “Amal” means ‘hope’). She would continue to focus on security, but though it would remain a priority, she would also work on economic and citizenship issues.
El-Haj said that when she handed in her application and CV to the GNC, it was accepted without comment. However independent Sabrata congressman, Salah Mito told this newspaper that the GNC had not announced that candidates for the job of prime minister could submit their papers. The debate over the future of Zeidan, he said, was not yet over.
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