On Thursday, Canada’s Ambassador to Libya, Isabelle Savard affirmed her support for the efforts of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to hold Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The Ambassador also praised HNEC’s “endeavours to complete all electoral entitlements, before the end of 2023.”
This came during a meeting between Savard and her accompanying delegation with HNEC’s Head, Emad Al-Sayeh.
“The visit comes within the framework of the international community’s support for the political process in Libya,” according to a statement issued on Thursday.
The two sides also “reviewed ways to support national proposals and endeavours that seek peace and stability, and aim to achieve consensus among political parties.”
The meeting dealt with “the latest developments in the course of the electoral process, and the commission’s readiness to fulfil its responsibilities to accomplish the upcoming elections.”
Earlier today, US Special Envoy to Libya, Ambassador Richard Norland and his accompanying delegation also held a meeting with Al-Sayeh.
Norland affirmed his support for HNEC’s efforts to “achieve free and credible elections that reflect the will of the Libyan voter.” He praised the “efforts undertaken by the Commission in dealing with the previous electoral stages,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh held a meeting with Norland to discuss the latest developments in the country.
In a statement, the Parliament’s media office said that they discussed the “Parliament’s efforts to date to establish a constitutional basis for elections.”
During the meeting, Saleh stated that “all the legislation required to hold the country’s Parliamentary and Presidential elections were successfully approved through the 13th Constitutional Amendment.”
The Speaker also affirmed the Parliament’s “readiness to draft the necessary amendments when needed. There is no obstacle to holding the elections with regard to the necessary legislation to conduct them.”
Saleh stressed the need for a unified government across the country to organize the elections, with results acceptable to all parties.
Norland asserted US support for the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily. As well as his efforts to secure a basis for elections this year.
