On Friday, the Libyan Parliament declared its refusal to participate in the meeting called by the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily. This is aimed at gathering rival parties to reach a consensus on contested issues, before heading to elections.
In a statement, the Parliament expressed reservations about the call, citing “concerns about the disregard for the Parliament’s decisions regarding constitutional amendments, and the vote of confidence given to the Libyan government.”
The statement emphasised the Parliament’s rejection of “engaging in any dialogue or political agreement that does not respect Libyan will, and elected legitimate institutions.”
It underscored the Parliament’s “commitment to electoral transparency, urging adherence to the Libyan people’s will through transparent voting processes, free from external interventions.”
Bathily has recently conducted intensive consultations with a wide range of Libyan stakeholders. He has initiated steps to resolve disputes among Libyan parties, and pave the way for elections, extending invitations to key institutional stakeholders for a preparatory meeting.
The meeting aims to resolve politically contested issues, hindering the implementation of the electoral process. It 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.”
UNSMIL said the initiative “aligns with the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2702 (2023), acknowledging the electoral laws adopted by the Parliament and reaffirming the Council’s support for Bathily’s mediation efforts.”
The resolution urges stakeholders to “intensify efforts to resolve outstanding political issues through UN-facilitated dialogue, and underscores the international community’s obligation to fully support Bathily and UNSMIL in their mandate implementation.”