On Sunday, the German Ambassador to Libya, Michael Ohnmacht, called on Libyan and international actors to provide full support for the initiative that was launched by the United Nations (UN) Envoy for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, to hold elections in the North-African country.
Ohnmacht expressed his support for Bathily’s initiative to “meet the aspirations of the great people of Libya.”
“Full support for Bathily’s clear message: Meet the aspirations of the great people of Libya. Libyan and international actors need to deliver to reach elections as the way to give Libyans what they deserve.
He stressed that the Libyan people deserve legitimate public institutions, stability, peace, and prosperity.
Earlier, Bathily said if electoral laws are put in place in June, elections could be held at the end of this year. “I believe that the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) and the High Council of State (HCS) will not take more than several months to draft the electoral laws, and it is important to create a proper security environment for holding the overdue electoral entitlement,” Bathily said during a press conference in Tripoli.
The UN Envoy added that if the 6+6 committee, comprising six members from the Parliament and six from the HCS worked within a reasonable time frame and came out with a constitutional and legal basis for the elections, this would restore the Libyan people’s confidence in the two institutions.
He stressed the importance of creating the necessary security environment for the elections, urging for peaceful dialogue between the country’s security authorities to pave the way for elections.
The UN Envoy highlighted that the transitional stages and interim governments caused prolongation of the crisis in Libya and exacerbated economic as well as social conditions in the country.
“The Parliament passed the 13th constitutional amendment and the HCS approved it at an accelerated pace, which is a step in the right direction,” he noted.
The UN diplomat called on the international parties to respond to the call of the Libyans in their aspiration for the elections. “Elections are necessary to restore the legitimacy that represents the Libyan people,” he added.
Bathily concluded, “postponing the elections was a disappointment to the Libyans, and the international community should help conduct a Libyan-Libyan dialogue.”