The First Libyan Parliamentary Elections of 1952: Between Organizational Laws and the Democratic Experience

Abstract

In fact, Libya has passed through periods of its contemporary history with parliamentary experiments since its submission to colonial control. At the end of the second Ottoman era, the 1908 constitution was prepared and the Council of Envoys was elected, which was suspended by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. As for the era of the Italian occupation, the Italian Barqawi Parliament was formed in 1921 AD, headed by Safi al-Din. Al-Senussi continued to work in the council until the fascists came to power in Rome. After World War II, the independence of Cyrenaica was declared in 1949, and the Barqawi constitution was also issued. Cyrenaica lived a parliamentary experience and witnessed successful parliamentary elections. After the declaration of the independence of Libya and the issuance of the Libyan Constitution on October 7, 1951, which was prepared by the National Assembly, the first stages of democracy began in Libya, represented by the first parliamentary elections in 1952, which were organized in accordance with the articles of the Constitution and the Federal Elections Law issued in 1951.