Political sectors under Gaddafi Politics of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi

1 political sectors under gaddafi

1.1 revolutionary sector

1.1.1 prominent members of regime


1.2 jamahiriya sector

1.2.1 legislative branch
1.2.2 judicial system


1.3 political parties , elections

political sectors under gaddafi
revolutionary sector

organs of military junta first put place in 1969. these organs never dissolved throughout period of gaddafi s rule, though after proclamation of jamahiriya, reorganised. revolutionary sector of gaddafi s jamahiriya officially under control of brother leader , guide of revolution muammar gaddafi after 1979.

beginning in 1977, gaddafi had introduced revolutionary committees assigned task of absolute revolutionary supervision of people s power ; is, guide people s committees , raise general level of political consciousness , devotion revolutionary ideals . in reality, gaddafi s revolutionary committees resembled similar systems in socialist countries, used survey population , repress political opposition gaddafi s autocratic rule. reportedly 10 20 percent of libyans worked in surveillance these committees, proportion of informants on par saddam hussein s iraq or kim jong il s north korea.

prominent members of regime

mutassim gaddafi u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton in 2009

until libyan civil war, general abdul fatah younis may have been second gaddafi in government hierarchy , interior minister. resigned on 22 february 2011.

on 1 march 2011, quryna reported gaddafi sacked right-hand man, information chief abdullah senussi, responsible brutality against protestors.

interpol on 4 march 2011 issued security alert concerning possible movement of dangerous individuals , assets based on united nations security council resolution 1970 (travel bans , assets freeze). warning lists gaddafi himself , 15 key members of regime:

jamahiriya sector

plaque denoting peoples bureau (embassy) of socialist people s libyan arab great jamahiriya in prague

the term jamahiriya (arabic: جماهيرية‎ jamāhīriyyah) translated state of masses . intended describe state following political philosophy expounded gaddafi in green book. term not occur in sense in gaddafi s green book itself, although text dwell on concept of masses (arabic: جماهير‎).

the concept presented materialization of third international theory, proposed gaddafi applied entire third world. term in practice has been applied libyan state, of gaddafi caid (translated leader; strict transliteration qāʾid). although gaddafi no longer held public office or title after 1980, accorded honorifics guide of first of september great revolution of socialist people s libyan arab jamahiriya or brotherly leader , guide of revolution in government statements , official press.

the government of great socialist people s libyan arab jamahiriya officially stated libya direct democracy without political parties, governed populace through local popular councils , communes (named basic people s congresses).

making legislative branch of government, sector comprised local people s congresses in each of 1,500 urban wards, 32 sha’biyat people’s congresses regions, , national general people s congress. these legislative bodies represented corresponding executive bodies (local people s committees, sha biyat people s committees , national general people’s committee/cabinet).

every 4 years membership of local people s congresses elected acclamation both own leadership , secretaries people’s committees, after many debates , critical vote. leadership of local people’s congress represented local congress @ people’s congress of next level , has imperative mandate. members of national general people s congress elected members of national general people’s committee (the cabinet) acclamation @ annual meeting.

while there discussion regarding run executive offices, approved revolutionary leadership elected. government administration effective long operated within directives of revolutionary leadership. revolutionary leadership had absolute veto power despite constitutionally established people s democracy , alleged rule of people. government controlled both state-run , semi-autonomous media, , articles critical of current policies requested , intentionally placed revolutionary leadership itself, example, means of initiating reforms. in cases involving violation of these taboos , private press, tripoli post, censored.

there no separate defense ministry in gaddafi s libya; defence activities centralised under presidency. arms production limited, due extensive imports soviet union, , manufacturers state-owned.

legislative branch

the general people s congress (mu tammar al-sha ab al âmm) consisted of 2,700 indirectly elected representatives of basis people s congresses. gpc legislative forum interacted general people s committee, members secretaries of libyan ministries. served intermediary between masses , leadership , composed of secretariats of 600 local basic popular congresses.

the gpc secretariat , cabinet secretaries appointed gpc secretary general , confirmed annual gpc congress. these cabinet secretaries responsible routine operation of ministries.

judicial system

the libyan court system consisted of 4 levels: summary courts, try petty offenses, courts of first instance, tried more serious crimes; courts of appeals, , supreme court, final appellate level. gpc appointed justices supreme court. special revolutionary courts , military courts operated outside court system try political offenses , crimes against state. libya s justice system nominally based on sunni law.

political parties , elections

political parties banned prohibition of party politics act number 71 of 1972, including hizb ut-tahrir. establishment of non-governmental organizations (ngos) allowed under association act of 1971. required conform goals of revolution, however, number of ngos in libya small in comparison neighboring countries. unions did not exist such. however, numerous professional associations integrated state structure third pillar, along people’s congresses , committees, though did not have right strike. professional associations sent delegates general people s congress, have representative mandate.

the general people s congress (mu tammar al-sha ab al âmm) consisted out of circa 2700 representatives of basis people s congresses.

before gaddafi s coup, general elections held in 1950s , 1960s. although political parties contested 1952 elections, subsequently banned , other elections carried out on non-partisan basis.