On Monday, the UN said that Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC) is the sole body able to decide the eligibility of candidates, and accept or reject their candidacy.
This came in response to HNEC’s announcement on Sunday, that it accepted the registration papers of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi for the upcoming Presidential elections.
“Of course we continue to support the Libyan authorities in preparation for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
“We have a mission on the ground, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and it is working with all Libyan stakeholders to facilitate consensus to organise comprehensive and credible elections in a timely manner,” Haq told reporters.
He pointed out that there are several differences over the electoral laws between the Libyan Parliament on the one hand, and the High Council of State (HCS), the Government of National Unity (GNU), and the Presidential Council on the other.
“As for the candidates, it is up to HNEC to receive the nominations of the candidates, and it is the only body who is able to decide the eligibility of the candidates in accordance with the legislative framework and the executive regulations,” he added.
In October, Chairman of HNEC, Emad Al-Din Al-Sayeh, said Saif Al-Islam had the right to run in the elections, explaining that the law issued by the Libyan Parliament did not prevent his candidacy. “However, Saif Al-Islam is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), he can run for presidency; because the elections law stipulates that the candidate should not be finally convicted by a Libyan judiciary,” Al-Sayeh explained.