EPTV goes to Tripoli to discover how the country is preparing for its first democratic elections in more than 40 years, amidst chaos and disorder on the streets.

Reporter: Libya - on the rocky road to democracy

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16032331/m003-0206-en_mf.srt

This is all that remains of  Muammar Gaddafi's headquarters.

Bombed many times by NATO,  it was the scene of bitter fighting

by the National Transitional Council's  forces in late August 2011.

The country's new masters  left their mark on the walls.

So everyone came  from Jadu, Zintan, Misrata.

when everyone from the rebels  came here on 20 August,

It's a small town or a small city  west of Tripoli.

The militia took power  and helped themselves

to the arms stores of the former regime.

The transitional government has trouble  asserting its authority.

Since the end of the conflict, certain militias  have clashed regularly in deadly battles.

We do not have a very strong  central power, so it's bound to happen.

When you don't have  a strong and firm power

that manages all the situations  and all the issues individually,

it means it creates a climate of disorder

and that's what we now have as a result.

The National Transitional Council  and the transitional government

are doing their best to run the country  before the elections.

It's a difficult task  with countless challenges,

After the revolution,  we only have concerns.

over education, over health,  over corruption.

Already delayed once, the elections  are due to take place on 7 July.

In the first national ballot  for over 40 years,

Libyans will elect a constituent assembly  of 200 members.

Our generation has no experience  whatsoever with elections

and has no experience whatsoever  with democracy

and to make people participate  in making decisions for their future.

who are independent or registered on lists  of political movements are standing.

dozens of political parties  have sprung up in recent months,

and 80% of the population  have registered to vote.

Our ambition was to have  something more organised

and to have knowledge for the people  to know what they are doing.

Most of the people  just went and registered

and didn't know exactly  what was behind this registration.

The EU is watching  the democratic process carefully.

Now the challenge is to make  many of these young people in the militia

go back to their normal life,  into civilian life,

and to integrate others  into the army and the police,

It takes time and it takes support  from friends of Libya.

The elections are just a first stage  in the normalisation of the Libyan situation.

They'll give the government legitimacy  and the country a new constitution.

But all diplomats agree that stability  won't be achieved for several years yet.