Libya's NTC announces new electoral law

Xinhua, January 29, 2012

Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) announced a new electoral law on Saturday, a member of NTC's legislative committee said.

The NTC legislative committee passed the electoral law earlier Saturday in the eastern city of Benghazi, a committee member named Mustafa Landy told Xinhua.

The new electoral law, which will be the basis for the formation of the country's constitutional assembly, abandons provisions that would have reserved for women 10 percent of the seats in the constitutional assembly, Landy said.

The law stipulates that 136 of the 200 seats in the assembly should be from party lists and the other 64 for independents.

It also lowers the age limit for candidates to 21 years old, the official said.

The NTC was scheduled to announce the new electoral law last week, but postponed the announcement due to protests.