Speaker of the eastern-based Libyan Parliament and candidate for the Presidential Council, Ageela Saleh confirmed his full commitment to UN Security Council decisions, international meetings, and the outcomes of the Libyan Political Dialogue Committee (LPDF).
During his speech to LPDF members, Saleh stated that the independence of the judiciary is the guarantor of freedom. He pointed out that the first goal is to support the judiciary and security services, as no person may be imprisoned except in accordance with the law.
“If we arrive to form a single authority, we will not allow harm come to the dignity of the citizen,” Saleh added.
He pointed out that the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) of 2015 was not approved by the Libyan Parliament, nor was it included in the constitutional declaration and the Prime Minister, Fayez Al-Sarraj was not nominated by the Parliament. He added that the Parliament rejected the Government of National Accord (GNA) twice, calling for it to be replaced.
When he was asked how he would build bridges of communication with western Libya, he replied that, “Libyans are part of one social fabric. We will follow one path as a country, and turn the page on the past.”
Saleh explained that he ran as a deputy because the Council’s regulation prohibits the combination of two positions, but does not prohibit running for an executive position. “We affirm our commitment to holding elections on time if the necessary conditions are met,” he added.
The work of the LPDF was launched on Monday under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), where 45 candidates, including 3 women began to present their credentials to the forum.