By Farah Waleed.
Benghazi, 11 September 2014:
The Constitution Drafting Assembly . . .[restrict](CDA) hopes to publish its proposed new constitution in December, its media spokesman, Sadiq Al-Drissi, announced today.
However, everything would depend on the situation in the country, he said, referring to a number of hurdles that would have to be dealt with before there could be a referendum. These were, he said, the boycott by the Amazigh, the clashes in the Warshefana area and in Benghazi, and the general lack of stability elsewhere.
If the constitution were published on 24 December – the date believed to be favoured by the CDA – a referendum could take place in February, possibly 17 February.
Theoretically, the constitution should have already been published and approved. However, it was widely thought, and accepted, that it would not be ready until some time next year.
Under the National Transitional Council’s Constitutional Declaration of August 2011, which acts as Libya’s interim constitution, the new constitution must first approved by the legislature, in other words the House of Representatives, and then within 30 days “be referred to the people for a referendum”.
Approval will require a two-thirds majority.
A first draft of the constitution is said to have already been drawn up. However, the CDA is reported to be still listening to and assessing views from the public. [/restrict]
