On Saturday, the Head of the Elections Follow-up Committee in the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR), Al-Hadi Al-Sagheer, rejected all foreign interference in Libya’s affairs.
In press statements, Al-Sagheer stressed his rejection of the recent statement issued by the British Embassy. He described it as a ‘blatant interference’ in Libya’s internal affairs.
Notably, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) issued a joint statement yesterday. In the statement they said the transfer of power from the current interim executive authority to the new executive authority should take place following the announcement of the results of such early and prompt parliamentary and presidential elections.
They urged candidates holding roles in public institutions to vacating them until the announcement of the electoral results “in order to avoid conflicts of interests and to promote a level playing field.”
The western countries warned that they will hold to account those who threaten the stability or undermine the political and electoral process in Libya, through violence, or the incitement of violence.
On Friday, the British Embassy also said that it will continue to recognize the Government of National Unity (GNU) as the authority tasked with leading Libya to elections and does not endorse the establishment of parallel governments or institutions.
These remarks came after the High National Election Commission (HNEC) announced that despite being technically prepared, it was unable to meet the 24th of December date set by the political roadmap for national elections.
Citing inadequacies in electoral legislation, challenges, and appeals related to candidates’ eligibility, the HNEC requested that the Libyan Parliament set another date for the first round of the Presidential elections, within a 30-day period.
Currently at stake is a peace process that had been seen as the best hope in years of bringing an end to the decade of chaos and violence that has engulfed Libya since a NATO-backed uprising which ousted Moammar Gaddafi in 2011.