On Thursday, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh revealed significant progress in Libya’s journey towards political stability.
In press statements to Russia’s Sputnik News Agency, he announced a pivotal agreement reached with Abdoulaye Bathily, the UN Envoy to Libya, outlining crucial steps towards forming a unified government, and setting the stage for impending national elections.
Saleh emphasized the urgent need for establishing a new government, before the end of the current year. This is seen as a vital step towards bridging the political divide in the country. The newly formed government will be granted an eight-month period to oversee and implement the electoral process, which is crucial for transitioning Libya into a phase of democratic governance.
The Speaker also hailed the critical role of the 6+6 Joint Committee in shaping the election laws, stressing that “these regulations should stand without objections.” This insistence on upholding the committee’s decisions underscores a push towards a unified approach to Libya’s electoral framework, essential for conducting transparent and fair elections.
Saleh expressed a categorical rejection of Prime Minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba’s involvement in Bathily’s meeting, which aims to bring together Libya’s primary political bodies.
In addition, the Parliament Speaker revealed an upcoming visit to Turkey, which may include a meeting with President Erdogan, in the next two weeks. This visit signifies potential diplomatic engagement, crucial for Libya in the current geopolitical landscape.
Addressing the National Reconciliation project, Saleh noted the absence of tangible outcomes, suggesting the necessity of a designated state President to lead this initiative. This position reflects a broader need for effective leadership, to guide Libya through its reconciliation process.
He reaffirmed Libya’s stance against hosting foreign military bases, and emphasized that the engagement of foreign experts is “purely advisory and non-political.”
Concluding his statements, Saleh highlighted the robust relationship between Libya and Russia, recognizing Moscow’s support for legitimacy in Libya. This relationship is indicative of Libya’s strategic international alliances.
Earlier today, Bathily extended invitations to key Libyan institutional stakeholders for a forthcoming meeting. The meeting aims to resolve politically contested issues, hindering the implementation of the electoral process.
The preparatory meeting will focus on determining the date, venue, and agenda of the meeting.
This will be attended by designated representatives from the Presidential Council, Libyan Parliament, High Council of State (HCS), Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Furthermore, discussions will address outstanding issues critical for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to initiate the implementation of electoral laws issued by the Parliament.
Bathily called on major actors to “move forward in good faith, striving collectively to deliver free, transparent, and inclusive elections for the Libyan people.”