On Thursday, the Arab League highlighted the necessity to clear obstacles impeding the final signature on the Libyan electoral law agreement, following the consensus in Bouznika, Morocco.
In a statement, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit praised Morocco’s efforts in hosting meetings of the 6+6 Joint Committee. This is tasked by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to draft the electoral laws.
The Committee postponed the signing of the final agreement, during a press conference on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, reports emerged about disagreements over some clauses.
Jalal Al-Shwehdi, the Head of the Parliamentary delegation, stated that the members agreed on a law for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. They are awaiting the final approval by the Speaker of the Parliament, Ageela Saleh, and the Chairman of the HCS, Khaled Al-Mishri in the coming days.
The agreement is a significant step towards organizing nationwide elections, which is seen as a crucial phase in the stabilization of Libya, and the solidification of its democratic processes.
These electoral laws would provide a legal framework for conducting free, fair, and inclusive elections.
The Committee announced on 24 May that it had reached an understanding to start finalizing the election laws, during a meeting in Morocco.
Over 50 members of the HCS and 61 MP’s rejected the outcomes of the Committee.
Libya has been in the midst of political instability since the death of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 after protests that escalated into civil war.
The country has been run by two rival governments, which has subsequently created security challenges that further hampered efforts to hold elections.
Morocco has been mediating the conflict, attempting to find a political solution to end the political crisis in the country.
UN Special Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily recently praised the North African country’s efforts, during a press conference he shared with Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita.
“We have a common desire to contribute to restoring peace and stability in Libya,” the UN Envoy said.
During the conference, Bourita reiterated Rabat’s support for an UN-led political process in Libya, saying that Morocco “will never take a biased position when it comes to the Libyan dossier.”