Mahoumoud Jibril’s National Forces Alliance takes 39 seats out of 80. Muslim Brotherhood fare badly only winning 17 seats. The Assembly composition to be decided in coming days through coalition between the 120 independent candidates and parties.

Tripoli (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A progressive coalition has won the first democratic elections in Libyan history. The National Forces Alliance (NFA) of Jibril Mohamoud, former Prime Minister of the National Transitional Council, has won 39 seats in the Constituent Assembly of the 80 reserved for political parties. Surprisingly, the Muslim Brotherhood received short shrift by winning only 17 seats. The remaining 120 seats in the Assembly are reserved for independent candidates.

Despite the clear NFA victory over the Islamist formation the composition of the Assembly tasked to write a new post-Gaddafi constitution remains uncertain. Experts say everything will be decided by the alliances between the independents and parties, where the Muslim Brothers claim to be favorites.

In the election on July 7 last there were over 100 political parties, many of which were born only in recent months. The European Union sent observers to monitor the proper conduct of the vote which saw a turnout of about 62% of those eligible. The euphoria of the election, however, was marred by several attacks and clashes between security forces and militia groups in favor of the partition of the country. They have repeatedly put at risk the smooth running of the vote. One person was killed during an attack on Ajdabiya (North East of Libya).

The future Constituent Assembly will have legislative powers and will stay in force for at least a year. Then elections will be held to choose the first democratic government after 40 years of dictatorship. The last free vote was in 1952, soon after independence from Italy.

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