Frustration grows with congress in Libya

As violence flares up in several regions of the country and political gridlock polarizes Tripoli, frustration in the General National Congess is growing amongst Libyans.

Asmaa Elourfi writes for Magharebia on how the current crises are leading to a crisis of confidence in the GNC.

"Amid continuing violence across Libya, many are expressing frustration with the General National Congress (GNC) and voicing scepticism that a constitutional drafting committee can bring change.

"No date has been set yet for the 60-member panel election because of citizens' abstaining from registering. As of Thursday (January 23rd), just 1,101,025 Libyans had registered to vote for the constitution drafting panel, according to the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC). 

"Ahmed Ali El-Ourfi, a 48-year-old Arabic teacher in al-Marj, said: "People don't trust individuals, and although the constitution-drafting panel is elected, they consider it to be a formality; second, people were shocked with those whom they voted for in the GNC."

Public support for the GNC amongst the Libyan population was already low before the current crises, with 60% of respondents in a poll conducted in September, 2013, rating the GNC's performance as poor. The current crises will likely further erode public support for the GNC just as the government will need broad public support to face the significant challenges facing the country.