Libyans and locals alike have spoken of their joy and expectation as the country raises the curtain on its first free national elections in more than 40 years today.
Originally scheduled for June, the election is expected to yield a 200-member Parliament tasked with nominating a Prime Minister and then drafting a new national Constitution.
“This is the start of something wonderful,” Mehemmed Izziddin Bek Derna, president of the Maltese-Arab Chamber of Commerce, said yesterday.
His mood was echoed by Alaa Ben Mahmud, a Libyan professional working in Malta.
“I’m so happy and excited but at the same time I just keep wishing I was there,” she said.
“Tomorrow, people all across Libya will be comparing their ink-stained fingers... the thought makes me envious.”
Voters in today’s election will have their index fingers stained with an indelible ink, a commonly used means of guarding against double voting and electoral fraud.
Pundits remain divided over the likely victors. Most analysis has centred on the likelihood of former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril’s moderate political movement vying for first place with the more religion-focused Muslim Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood recently won a resounding victory during stormy elections in Egypt and some analysts have implied that its success there might spill over into Libya.
But Mr Bek Derna believed otherwise. “I believe (Mahmoud) Jibril’s grouping will do best. Libyans are Muslims but they are more moderate than those in many neighbouring countries.”
Maltese businessman Mario Debono also thought Mr Jibril’s political moderates would ultimately win out. “It will be very close but I think the more moderate factions, led by Jibril, have a slight edge,” he said.
Not that an eventual victory for the more religiously inclined factions left Mr Debono overly concerned. “Libyans will do business with anyone. And as they’re close to Malta and the Maltese that trade is bound to continue,” he said.
Asked to predict a result, Ms Mahmud was more circumspect.
“Those involved in civil society will tell you that Jibril’s party is going to win. Others will say the Brotherhood is in the lead.
“But it seems as though all the parties contesting want to improve the country, introduce the rule of law and respect democracy. And that can only be a good thing.”
Political analyst Arsalan Alshinawi offered a contrary perspective. “The general trend in the Arabic world is to turn towards Islamism and I expect the same to happen in Libya.”
With the interim government having struggled to keep rebel militias in check over recent months, there are some concerns that electoral tension may spill over into violence.
Mr Bek Derna, however, waved away such concerns and added: “Most Libyans – the so-called silent majority – want peace and stability.
“Hopefully, after tomorrow they won’t be so silent!”
Although Libya’s actual election takes place today, Libyans living in Canada, Dubai, Germany, Jordan, the UK and the US have been able to cast their vote since last Tuesday.
A total of 2,500 candidates will be contending 120 parliamentary seats, with a further 1,206 party candidates scrambling for the remaining 80 seats allocated to party lists.
The convoluted system is likely to leave many Westerners scratching their heads.
But in a country with next to no electoral history and still dealing with the fallout from the overthrow of 42 years of dictatorial rule, having nationwide free elections is no mean feat.
Dr Alshinawi had a word of warning. “Libya’s elections are an important test for the country’s stability. But Libya’s problems extend well beyond these elections. And once the celebration dies down, the victors will have to find a way of dealing with the problems left behind by Muammar Gaddafi.”
“Most Libyans – the so-called silent majority – want peace and stability.” Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi