Brussels, 12/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - David Geer, Deputy Head of the Maghreb Division of the European External Action Service (EEAS), announced at a meeting on human rights in Libya in the European Parliament on Thursday 12 April that the EEAS is considering sending a fact-finding team, which could leave this weekend, to determine whether it will be possible for the EU to act as an election observer in June. He said that the EEAS was helping the authorities prepare for the elections.
MEP and rapporteur on Libya Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal) stressed the crucial importance of these elections in June, even though they might very well be flawed. “Libyans all tell me that the elections are essential as they will bring in a government that feels entitled to take decisions”, Gomes said, indicating that “the present government does not feel it has the power to take decisions” as it was not elected. Omar Bakhet of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance expressed concern: “These elections are being organised in such a way that well organised groups will take the seats. There is no room for the new parties.” He said that current electoral law had “serious flaws”, in distribution, voting papers, the make-up of lists, the total exclusion of women from the elections and the registration of candidates. He called for local elections to be held, pointing out that local authorities in Misrata, Benghazi and Tripoli are ready to organise such elections in order to have elected people in local government. (CG/transl.rt)