Member of the Libyan Parliament, Sarah Al-Suwaih said that “there is no way for Libya to get out of this tunnel, except with a permanent constitution for the country. This will be by agreement between the Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS), in accordance with Article (51) of the political agreement.”
Commenting on the details of the Parliamentary session, and the statements of Speaker, Ageela Saleh, Al-Suwaih said: “If the intentions are true, and there is a real political and military will to save the country, the constitution can be completed within a period of four months. Then elections will be held, in accordance with the country’s new constitution.”
The MP noted that the draft constitution, submitted by the Constituent Assembly will be reviewed. They are due to note their observations, through the Constitutional Track Committee formed between the two chambers.
“The commission meets, writes down these observations, and approves a draft consensual constitution for the country for a period of five years, for example,” she said.
The Libyan lawmaker explained: “The referendum law was approved by the Parliament, after consulting the HCS, and referring it to the commission to hold a referendum on the constitution.”
She confirmed that after the approval of the draft constitution, it will be adopted as the permanent constitution of the country, after amendments. Then Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be held, in accordance with the approved consensual constitution.
On Tuesday, Saleh said that “the solution that will get the country out of its crisis is to amend the constitutional declaration.” He called on MP’s to “take bold, courageous decisions, and responsibility.”
In a speech he delivered during the session held in Benghazi, Saleh added that the Parliament is “the only legislative body, and the High Council of State (HCS) is only advisory.”
The Speaker confirmed that the Parliament will continue to consult with the HCS. He noted that the HCS has not responded to the Parliament’s correspondence, regarding several outstanding issues.
He stressed that “the solution to the Libyan crisis comes through amending the constitutional declaration, and establishing a rule for elections.”
He explained that the dispute with the HCS is “represented in the latter’s refusal to nominate dual nationals for the Presidential elections. They should be allowed to run, provided that the winner renounces their foreign nationality, before taking the constitutional oath.”
Saleh noted that “what is presented is a draft constitution, not a single rule, and it must be presented to the Libyan people for a referendum, and there will be discussion and community dialogue on it.”