Libya's Elections Delay

Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) is delaying elections scheduled for June 19 in order to allow disqualified candidates to appeal their decisions, NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdel-Jalil said May 25. A new date for the elections, which will create the Public National Conference (PNC), has not been set.

The NTC is under domestic and international pressure to hold elections as soon as possible and demonstrate progress in the country's political transition. The council has been working to craft domestic and foreign policy and revive the country's energy industry. But the postponement will fuel concerns, both domestic and among energy majors, that the NTC cannot build a working consensus among the country's many tribal factions and that short-term and midterm insecurity will persist.