Formal power handover from NTC to National Congress on 8 August

Tripoli, 6 August:

The NTC will disband on 8 August when it hands over power to the National Congress.  The ceremonial handover will take place at the Ghabet Alnaser Convention Centre next to the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli within the context of the first meeting of the Congress.

The date is symbolic. It corresponds to 20 Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. Last year 20 Ramadan was 20 August in the Gregorian calendar.  It is the date that Tripoli was liberated.

It is not expected that once the ceremony is done there will be any other formal business at the event, such as electing a speaker for Congress.  However, reports that it would ajourn and meet for its forst working session after Eid are being discounted by some of the newly-elected members.

A prominent member, told Libya Herald that it would probably not be the case.  “Members are coming from all over Libya.  They will not want to come just for the day and then return home,” he said.  His expectation is that they will want to meet to for at least a couple of days and get to grips with some initial necessary business despite it being Ramadan and the build-up to Eid.

The first decision Congress needs to take is who should be its speaker/chairman and who the deputies.  It is suggested there will be two.

Wednesday’s 11 pm. power handover, to be televised internationally, is seen as such as major event in Libya’s recent history that even journalists and TV cameramen have been told they must dress formally.

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