Briefing the Security Council, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ian Martin, noted that the spirit of democracy was displayed during the 7 July National Congress election in a manner which deeply impressed all observers.

“Libyan men and women, young and old, amassed in queues at polling centres to cast their votes, and then displayed their inked fingers with the pride and emotion of people who had so long been denied democratic freedoms, many of whose families had suffered and sacrificed loved ones for the right they were at last able to exercise,” Martin said.

“Where violence threatened the poll, it was the determination and the courage of the voters themselves which successfully resisted it,” he added.

The envoy also noted that the organization of the polls was an “extraordinary accomplishment,” considering the country’s lack of electoral experience and a hugely demanding timetable.

“This will be the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power in Libya,” he said. “Its new political leaders must then reach agreement on the formation of a new government, and on the process for drawing up a new constitution.”

Libya’s interim Government is expected to remain in office until the new government is formed, and is preparing a smooth handover. “New ministers will begin with a better legacy than the institutional void which greeted their predecessors. But there is no underestimating the challenges and the expectations which the new government will face,” said Mr. Martin.

Foremost among these challenges is security, he stated, noting that Libyans want the rule of law to prevail, in a weapons-free environment, where police respond to crimes, and only state authorities arrest and detain suspects.

Closely related to the issue of security is that of justice, where “progress has been disappointing, and a new government must bring stronger efforts,” said the envoy.

He added that, along with security and justice, Libya faces the challenges of developing the institutions of a modern State, diversifying the economy and creating jobs, fighting corruption and respecting human rights.

“The successful election has further enhanced expectations, but these are tasks which will extend far beyond the term of the next government,” Martin stated.

Pollster Elias Nikolakopoulos said on Mega television prime time news that the percentage of undecided voters remains high, whilst participation is expected to be less than 2009, despite the crucial nature of the national election. A joint exit poll by major opinion companies companies that will be announced at 7.00 pm will give a ± 0.5 range, except for the parties that are close to the 3% threshold. For these parties, estimations will have to wait for the final counting of the electoral outcome.

Marc polling company CEO T. Gerakis told Alpha television: “Undecided voters are more than ever… even those who have decided have not a fixed opinion regarding the political party that will eventually choose to vote. One day they say one thing and the next something else…” he said.

PASOK specialists argued yesterday that 90% of the undecided voters do not belong to the so-called anti-MoU group. They explain this as follows: “hardcore anti-MoU voters have already decided what to vote. Voters that are more neutral tend to move around until the last minute”.

ND people on the other hand argue that in the last 30 years, 70% of undecided voters in Greece tend to vote for the party that is closer to victory. “In this case”, they say, “figures show a sweeping victory for the New Democracy.” And it’s winning performance was recorded for the last time yesterday. ND leader’s staffers believe that ND’s percentage will exceed 30%. Rolling secret polling showed already a steady 28%.

Exit polls will be published at 7 pm, including officially 75% of the sample. At 8 pm a second wave will follow with 100% of the sample, and around 9:30 pm. there will be a reassessment of the election result. NET, ANT1, Alpha and Mega agreed to share the cost of an exit poll by the polling companies

The first “safe” estimate of Sunday’s election result is not expected to emerge before 11:00 pm, according to the IT firm Singular Logic, which has been assigned the job of collecting and transmitting the results of voting throughout the country. They also clarified that obtaining such a ‘safe estimate’ (with a small deviation of around 0.5%) will depend on whether they have a response from 50% of the sample in 5,000 polling stations chosen at random and representative of the 56 electoral constituencies.

Voter registration is a “very important step” in the election process,” the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement. “UNSMIL encourages all Libyans to exercise their democratic rights and actively participate in the elections by going to registration centres to register.”

Libya’s High National Election Commission (HNEC) announced today that voter registration as well as the registration of candidates/entities will begin on coming Tuesday.

The election for members of the National Congress, due to be held by late June, will be the first free elections in the North African country in four decades. The National Congress will be tasked with drafting a new constitution for Libya, where Muammar al-Qadhafi ruled for more than 40 years until a pro-democracy uprising last year led to civil war and the deposing of his regime.

UN observers noted that the upcoming election is a “Libyan-led process,” and that it remains committed to assist and support national efforts in this process.