General People's Committee


The General People's Committee, often abbreviated as the GPCO, was the executive branch of government during the era of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. It served as the intermediary between the masses and government leadership and was composed of a general secretary and twenty secretaries of some 600 local "basic popular congresses", GPCO members were elected by the country's parliament, the General People's Congress, and had no fixed terms.
It was the rough equivalent of the cabinet in many republics, constitutional democracies, and constitutional monarchies, as well as the Executive Board of the rival National Transitional Council, which ultimately replaced the jamahiriya as Libya's dominant force as a result of the Libyan Civil War. The GPCO was scattered by the fall of Tripoli in 2011, with some of its members fleeing into exile, some becoming prisoners of war, and some remaining in Libya.

History

In March 1977, the General People's Congress adopted the "Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority" and proclaimed the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The people exercise authority through the people's committees, people's congresses, professional associations, and the GPC. Elections were direct, and all voting consisted of a show of hands or a division into yea-or-nay camps. Suffrage and committee or congress membership were open to all Libyan citizens eighteen years of age or older in good legal and political standing.
In theory, the residents of each zone elected their own people's committee. Similarly, the residents of each branch municipality elected their own Basic People's Congress. The BPC members then elected a chairman and a five-member branch or municipal people's committee. The General People's Congress was made up of the chairmen of the BPC, the branch and municipal people's committees, and representatives of the people's committees for unions, professional associations and student unions. The GPCO replaced the former Council of Ministers, its members being referred to as secretaries rather than ministers. Legislative and executive authority was vested in the GPC. This body, however, delegated most important authority to its general secretary and General Secretariat and to the GPCO. Muammar Gaddafi, as general secretary of the GPC, remained primary policy maker. As a part of a decentralisation program undertaken during September 1988, all GPCO secretariats, except those responsible for foreign policy and information, were relocated away from Tripoli. In early 1993 it was announced that the Secretariat for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation was to be moved to Ra's Lanuf.

Competences of GPCO

  1. Implement laws and resolutions issued by the GPC formulated by the BPC.
  2. Prepare project proposals and budgets for the General Planning Council.
  3. Present plans for public projects to the General Planning Council.
  4. Propose bills, as well as other topics presented to the BPCs.
  5. Implement and manage strategic projects.
  6. Monitor BPC committees, institutions and public companies ensuring accordance to BPC decisions.
  7. Supervise the Great Manmade River project and other investments.
  8. Issue decisions on organizational structures for the government.
  9. Encourage foreign investment in Libya and monitor investments abroad.
  10. Adopt curriculum.
  11. Issue regulations governing contract work financed from the budget.
  12. Issue and regulate laws as stipulated by the jurisdiction.
  13. Establish, consolidate and organize institutions, companies and public works.
  14. Operational cost of the GPC or BPC.

    Responsibilities

  15. Implement laws and resolutions issued by the BPCs drafted in the GPC.
  16. Invitation to GPCO meetings and monitor implementation.
  17. Propose bills and other topics presented to the GPCO for approval.
  18. Conclude treaties, conventions and the international loans.
  19. Adopt minutes for joint committee meetings, and address questions of international cooperation.
  20. Name Trustees and BPC members and agencies; public corporations and general assembly members of public companies as determined by executive regulations.
  21. Authorize international institutions and public companies contracting with foreign companies.
  22. Investigate the popular committees, and punish them in accordance with existing legislation.
  23. Work assigned by the GPC, secretariat of the GPCO or, or the GPCO for the traditional.

    GPCO Ministers

In January 2007, the General People's Committee consisted of the following members:
NameMinistryWebsiteStart termEnd term
Mustafa Miftah Bel'id al-DersiMinister of Youth and SportsJanuary 2006
Abu-Bakr Yunis JabrMinister of DefenceJanuary 1970killed 20 October 2011
Abd-al-Hafid Mahmud al-ZulaytiniAssistant Secretary January 2007
Baghdadi MahmudiSecretary of the GPCO March 2006fled the country 23 August 2011
Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Moussa Koussa		Minister of Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation2000
4 March 2009		replaced 4 March 2009
resigned 30 March 2011
Ehtuish EhtuishMinister of Health2000
Tahar al-Hadi Al-JuhaymiMinister of Planning2006
Ali Abd-al-Aziz al-IsawiMinister of Economy, Trade and InvestmentJanuary 2007
Ammar LatifMinister of TourismOffice removed
Nuri Daw al-HumaydiMinister of Culture and Information2006
Mustafa Abdul JalilMinister of JusticeJanuary 2007resigned 21 February 2011
Muhammad al-HuwayjMinister of FinanceJanuary 2007
Salih Rajab al-MismariMinister of Public Security2006
Baghdadi MahmudiMinister of Education2006fled the country 23 August 2011
Ali Yusuf ZikriMinister of Industry and MinesJanuary 2007
Abu-Bakr al-MansouriMinister of Agriculture, Animal Wealth and Marine Resources2006
Muhammad Abu al-Ujayli RashidMinister of Health and EnvironmentJanuary 2007
Ibrahim al-Zuruq al-SharifMinister of Social AffairsJanuary 2007
Agil Husayn AgilMinister of Higher EducationJanuary 2007
Muhammad Abu-Ujayl al-MabrukMinister of Telecommunications and TransportJanuary 2007
Umran Ibrahim Abu-Kra'aMinister of Electricity, Water Resources and GasJanuary 2007
Muhammad Ali Al-HwijeMinister of FinanceJanuary 2007
M'atoog Mohamed M'atoogMinister of Manpower, Training and Operation
Mahmoud JibrilMinister of National Planning CouncilJanuary 2007
Abdul Rahman GamudiMinister of General Investment
January 2007
Ali ShamkhMinister of EnergyApril 2009
Shukri GhanemMinister of OilOctober 2009defected mid-May 2011,
previously reported
as defecting February 2011
Abdul Fatah Younis''Minister of Interior and Army General?defected 22 February 2011

Notes:

1. Ministers in italics are no longer serving.
2. The GPCO was changed in 2007: Ministers of Tourism and Energy were removed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes the following Assistants:
Other Secretary assistants