The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

The editorial board of the Washington Post reflects on Libya’s parliamentary elections in which 65 percent of Libyans cast ballots for an interim National Assembly. The initial results of the election were encouraging.  Reports suggested that the centrist alliance led by former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril won a plurality. While Jibril shies away from being labeled secularist or liberal, he appears committed to democratic principles and proposed to form a coalition in which his opponents are welcome.

Libya will face many obstacles and challenges ahead as they address the question of Islamic law, regional and ethnic clashes, and militia-controlled regions of the country that refuse to answer to a central authority.  Given these conditions and challenges,  it’s imperative that “new government can succeed in imposing its authority across the country.”