By Muttaz Ali.
Tripoli, 15 April 2014:
The General National Congress has accepted the resignation of Nuri Elabbar as chairman of . . .[restrict]the High National Elections Commission (HNEC). At its morning session today, it appointed the deputy chairman, Emad Al-Shadi Al-Saih, as the organisation’s new head.
Elabbar resigned as chairman at the beginning or March, refusing to give reasons, although at the time an HNEC official said he was deeply unhappy at the lack of security provided by the authorities during the Constitutional Assembly elections in February. He himself said that HNC had made repeated requests for security for the elections but nothing had been done.
The lack of security prevented polling taking place in Derna as well as Murzuk and Obari.
There has been speculation that one of the reasons for his resignation was his hope of being appointed prime minister. His was one of the names put forward to replace Ali Zeidan.
HNEC was instructed by Congress three weeks ago to organise fresh elections for the 13 seats still not filled for the Constitutional Assembly. Congress has also instructed it to organise elections for a new legislature, the House of Representatives.
These are expected to take place in June or July. [/restrict]
