The Media Advisor to Ageela Saleh, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Fathi Al-Marimi claimed that “there are many inaccuracies in the briefing of the UN Special Representative to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily before the Security Council, regarding the Parliament.”
In press statements, Al-Marimi added: “The Parliament supports the urgent holding of Presidential and Parliamentary elections.”
He added that the Parliament “has provided great facilities to the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), by issuing laws.” He confirmed that the obstruction of elections “comes from other parties, not from the Parliament.”
The Libyan Parliament and its designated government, led by Fathi Bashagha denounced the new political initiative announced by Bathily during his briefing to the Security Council.
The Parliament protested against the initiative, which aims to hold Parliamentary and Presidential elections this year. It stressed that the call for the formation of a new Dialogue Committee “is one of its competencies with the High Council of State (HCS).”
The House affirmed “Libyan ownership of the political process,” explaining that it is “the only guarantor for the success of any initiatives in this regard.” It stated that the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) limited the invitation to convening the Dialogue Committee in Parliament and the Supreme Council.”
It noted that Bathily’s briefing included “contradictions and inaccuracies” regarding the failure of the Parliament and the HCS to approve the constitutional rule for holding elections.
In turn, the Foreign Ministry of the Bashagha-led government warned of “trying to bypass the official political bodies (the Parliament and HCS). As this step does not help in reaching successful and satisfactory solutions.”
It added that the UN mission will “put itself in a contradictory and non-neutral position.”
The Foreign Ministry stressed that the Skhirat political agreement “is the basis on which it relies and enhances the legitimacy of the Parliament and the HCS.”
