In Libya, Ballots Triumph Over Bullets
Huda Abuzeid took part in Libya’s first elections in 40 years, and the first since dictator Moammar Gaddafi’s regime fell last year. She says Libyans look forward to seeing what their first elected government can do to address the security and economic problems that have plagued the country in the past year.
Walking through Tripoli’s streets on Saturday, the celebratory atmosphere was visible and audible across the city, and it was difficult as a Libyan not to get caught up in the emotions on display. Having been denied even a local council election for forty years, the city’s population was determined to enjoy this historic day, the country’s first national elections since the 1960s. I felt so happy and proud of my fellow Libyans.
People smiled at me, waved their flags and honked car horns as they drove through the streets. Fingers were held up in victory signs – something I hadn’t seen since the one year anniversary of the revolution – except this time most of the fingers were stained in indigo ink: a sign they’d been up early and already voted.
A young mother named Nada, who declind to give her last name, had been at the polling station since 7:15am with her family.
“This is the best day of my life,” she said. Her voice was already hoarse from all the celebratory cries.
