By Michel Cousins.
Tunis, 25 July 2016:
Tribal representatives from across Libya were urged by members of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) to support the proposed constitution at a meeting in Tunis today. The call had been well received, CDA members later told the Libya Herald.
After two years of work, the constitution was finally completed and delivered to the House of Representatives (HoR) earlier this month, although the HoR has no right to make any amendments. Its role now is to legislate for a referendum on the constitution.
The proposed constitution was signed by 37 members of CDA. One more, Abdulgader Gadura, put his name to it but reportedly said it did not constitute a formal signature until a 39th member signed it.
A number of CDA members have been in Tunis for several days for meetings related to the proposed constitution. Today’s get-together with the tribal representatives, was a last minute affair, CDA media committee head Ibrahim Elbaba told this newspaper. Learning that the tribal representatives were also in Tunis, they requested a session with them.
This week the CDA members will also meet with representatives from a number of municipalities, including cental Tripoli and Benghazi – again to build support for the constitution. In addition, there will be a separate meeting with teams from the House of Representatives and the High National Electoral Commission to plan a draft law on the referendum.
In a move of major potential significance, some HoR members are now calling for the proposed constitution to become a temporary constitution, replacing the Libyan Political Agreement on an interim basis until it can be voted on in the referendum.
The call reflects acceptance that in the present political climate, it will be very difficult to conduct a referendum, let alone ensure that two-thirds of the voters approve it. It is also see as a means of enabling Libya to overcome its current political crises.
Were it to happen, it would result in the Presidency Council being replaced by an interim president, the Government of National Accord (GNA) by a new government, the current HoR by a new house and the State Council by a senate. However, the proposal is likely to face major opposition in the east from Khalifa Hafter and the Libyan National Army and in the west from supporters of the GNA.
