The Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh received the Prime Minister of the Parliament-designated government, Fathi Bashagha in Al-Qubba city, eastern Libya.
The two sides discussed the government’s support for the 6+6 Joint Committee. This was formed by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to establish electoral laws, under the 13th Constitutional Amendment.
Bashagha and Saleh also discussed the situation in Libya, in the presence of the Minister of State for Legislative Authority Affairs, Mohamed Abu Zagiya.
Bashagha submitted a draft law prepared on the administration of local government, and the establishment of governorates. The proposal aims to decentralise the state, and deliver services to all municipalities to achieve the principle of justice and fairness.
Notably, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) vowed that it will provide technical and logistical support to the 6+6 Joint Committee to establish electoral laws.
The UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily urged the leaders of the two chambers to expedite the work of the committee, and publish a timebound work programme.
“For elections to take place this year, the electoral laws must be completed in time for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to begin implementing the electoral process by early July,” Bathily said in his brief to the UN Security Council last week.
Bathily noted that the Chairman of HNEC, Emad Al-Sayeh informed him that, “while awaiting the electoral laws and the provision of necessary funds, the Commission has started initial preparations for the electoral process.”
He called on the Libyan government to provide HNEC with “all necessary resources to complete its mandated tasks in a timely manner.”
“Leaders and representatives of military units and security formations operating in western, eastern, and southern Libya committed to supporting all stages of elections, reject violence throughout Libya, take practical steps for the safe return of internally displaced persons, release detainees, and address the missing persons issue in the context of national reconciliation,” Bathily told the Security Council.
“As a result of these consultations, on 8 April 2023, Libyan National Army (LNA) authorities release six detainees from western Libya as a confidence-building measure.”
Earlier this month, Bashagha confirmed that he will “remain in office until all Libyan parties agree on electoral laws that are internationally welcomed, and start announcing specific dates for the elections.” He added that he will “define his position on running for the upcoming Presidential elections, after the issuance of laws regulating the electoral process.”
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.0
