By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 31 May 2015:
An opinion survey conducted in 22 Libyan towns and cities across the political divide showed . . .[restrict]that an overwhelming number of Libyans were optimistic, believed in the 17 February revolution, in favour of the unity of the country and for a decentralized system of government.
The survey was organized by the preparatory committee of the National Dialogue Authority and the Benghazi University Research Centre polled 1350 Libyans.
While the need for national unity polled 98 percent, only 11 percent preferred a federal system whereas 60 percent supported a decentralized system for running the country.
Moreover, despite the fact that most Libyans had prior to the 2012 and 2014 parliamentary elections never experienced democratic elections in their lives, 97 percent reported that they believed in the peaceful rotation of government.
Equally encouragingly for the UN-led peace talks is that 94 percent rejected violence as the means to solving the country’s current crises.
Despite all the short term turmoil that the so-called Arab Spring revolution brought to Libya, 80 percent still believed in tthe 17 February revolution that overthrew the authoritarian Qaddafi regime.
Even more encouragingly, and in what might be a pleasant surprise to outside observers of Libya, 70 percent said that they believed that the country would be better in a year’s time.
On the style and system of government, 44 percent said that they preferred a presidential system of governing the country whilst 40 percent believed that the country needed a strong leader. Only 19 percent preferred a parliamentary system.
It is worth recalling, for those interested in establishing changes and trends in Libyan public opinion, that three major surveys were previously conducted in 2013 sponsored by the Danish Foreign Ministry. [/restrict]
