It is now clear that the main winner of the first democratic elections in Libya is the National Forces Alliance. Guy Verhofstadt extends his congratulations to the head of the Alliance, Mahmud Jibril.

Guy Verhofstadt: "Mahmud Jibril and his Alliance prove that with unity, the right vision and courage, elections can be won by non-Islamist forces in the Arab world. This victory also proves that the pessimists and cynics on future of democracy in the Arab world are wrong. After Tunisia and Egypt the elections in Libya have been free, peaceful and democratic. It is a victory for all Libyans who voted in huge numbers. Mahmud Jibril said some months ago that Europe had neglected Libya. He was right. Now it is the moment for the EU to re-engage again in Libya one hundred percent."

ALDE group was the first to invite Jibril to the European Parliament shortly after his appointment as head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) last year and the ALDE group first called for the recognition of the NTC as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people. After his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg Mahmud Jibril travelled on to Paris to meet Sarkozy, who became the first head of state to recognize the NTC and call for intervention. He then convinced Hillary Clinton to change the stance of the US on the need for intervention.
 
After the liberation of Tripoli, Jibril stepped down as leader of the NTC in order to form an alliance of parties, independents and NGO's in order to create a vision of a democratic Libya.  He is part of a network of Liberal Arab leaders who have emerged since the Arabl spring.