A Transatlantic Perspective on the Libyan Election

The surprise results of Libya's recent election offer the transatlantic partners unexpected new opportunities to promote democratic governance, regional security, and expanded commercial interests in the region. Collectively, moderate or "liberal" political parties took over 60 percent of the party seats in the General National Congress (GNC). The election results for the 120 independent seats were not as clear-cut as those for the 80 party seats. Genuinely independent candidates or individual candidates with ties to parties other than the National Forces Alliance won a majority of the GNC seats reserved for independents. If the transatlantic partners can divest themselves of old paradigms and embrace change, they can promote democracy and human rights within the political system likely to evolve in Libya.