On Sunday, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, called on the Libyan people to exercise their constitutional right to freely choose their coming President who will represent them, and lead the country towards safety and stability.
In press statements, the HoR Speaker welcomed the announcement of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) regarding the opening of registration of candidates for Libya’s presidential and legislative elections planned for December 24th.
“This is a victory for the Libyan people who will be able to exercise a free choice as electors in electing an appropriate man’ in leading the country towards stability,” Ageela added.
Notably, the Head of the High National Election Commission (HNEC), Imad al-Sayeh, announced that candidate registration for the presidential election will be open from November 8th to 22nd, and from November 8th to December 7th for the legislative polls.
Oil-rich Libya has been torn apart by violence since the 2011 overthrow and killing of veteran leader Moammer Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
The polls are part of the United Nations (UN)-backed peace efforts that have helped create a year of relative calm in war-wracked Libya following a ceasefire.
Last October’s ceasefire between rival eastern and western governments, led to a transitional government taking office in March to steer the country to elections.
Foreign powers have been pushing hard for elections to be both held as scheduled on the same day, December 24th, a date agreed at the UN-led talks last year.
The embattled country has also struggled with infighting over a timetable for the elections and the legality of the polls.
World powers, including France and the United States (US), are due to hold a conference on November 12th in Paris to make a new push to restore stability in Libya.
On Sunday, the HNEC said that 2.83 million Libyans out of a population of seven million have already registered to vote.