Archive: Election hogwash stores trouble for Libya

First published 10 Jul 2012, Luikkerland site.

The Libyan elections, lauded in corporate-media where a ridiculous attempt is being made to hail a victory for “liberalism”, are not as they seem. A turnout figure of 62% may have evolved from the unverifiable certainty expressed in the Financial Times on Election Day which claimed a high turnout, but failed to supply any figures. In itself it is nothing to brag about, and means that roughly 1.6 million voted. Therefore, of the estimated 4.5 million people of voting-age in Libya, only 37% took part in elections – in no way a ringing endorsement. The outcome may indicate the extent of a boycott staged by all sides, and how trouble has been stored up for the future. This hasn’t stopped corporate-media types baptising elections as a path to liberalised national integrity, even though they have to concede that Libyan “liberals”will be open to working with more avowed Islamists. Indeed, Jibril was predicted as being engineered into a figurehead president while ministerial positions went to Islamists – something that now looks like a device to be able to present as success for “liberals” whatever the actual outcome. Only time, and ministerial appointments, will tell who really won.