Libya's NTC Adopts Election Law, Drops Women Earlier Draft Quota of 10%

France 24, January 28, 2012 - 21H22

Libya's ruling National Transitional Council said it adopted on Saturday a new electoral law on the basis of which the North African country will form its first constituent assembly in June.

AFP - Libya's ruling National Transitional Council said it adopted on Saturday a new electoral law on the basis of which the North African country will form its first constituent assembly in June.

The law, announced on the NTC's Facebook page, scraps a draft proposal that would have reserved 10 percent of seats on the 200-member General National Congress for women, in a move criticised by women's and rights groups.

The law also stipulates that two-thirds of the congress be made up of candidates from political groups, with the rest going to independent members.

NTC member Mukhtar al-Jaddal confirmed the adoption of the electoral law.

"The NTC adopted the electoral law. The new law has abandoned the 10 percent quota reserved for women" that was proposed in the draft version of the law, Jaddal told AFP.

The NTC said on its Facebook page that the adopted law calls for 136 seats of the assembly to go to candidates of political parties and the remaining 64 seats to be held by independents.

It also said that each political party must have equal numbers of men and women in their lists of candidates for the 136 seats.

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