Member of the Libyan Parliament, Abdel-Monem Al-Arfi disclosed that the upcoming Parliamentary session revolved around the recent meeting between the Speaker of the House, Ageela Saleh, Head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi and the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
He added that the session would address the steps of the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, concerning the high-level committee he intends to form.
In an exclusive statement to the “Sefr” platform, Al-Arfi indicated that the electoral laws issued by the Parliament did not sit well with Bathily. This prompted him towards the formation of this high-level committee.
Al-Arfi also emphasised that the upcoming meeting would underscore the need for a Libyan solution, emphasising cooperation between the Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS). He further revealed that the session would discuss these electoral laws, since all related observations had been directed to the 6+6 Joint Committee.
He referred to a recent statement by the Head of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) Emad Al-Sayeh on the need to communicate with the 6+6 Committee and incorporate feedback. Al-Arfi said, “We have noted Al-Sayeh’s request to incorporate feedback and lean towards forming a streamlined executive government for advancing towards elections.”
Concluding, he affirmed that the committee would continue its work unless the UN Mission (UNSMIL) intervenes in the Libyan crisis. He optimistically noted that things are improving, especially after the consolidation and unification of the Central Bank.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar 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.
