Libyan MP, Hassan Al-Zarqa accused the Head of the Libyan High Council of State (HCS), Mohamed Takala of obstructing the election process. Al-Zarqa’s criticism centers on Takala’s opposition to laws passed by the Parliament in October. These laws were initially drafted by a joint committee of members from both councils, known as the 6 + 6 Joint Committee.
In exclusive remarks to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Zarqa stated, “Takala’s insistence on discussing the sovereign positions and reaching a consensus with the Parliament, followed by reconsidering electoral laws, will only lead to further delays. This benefits the continued presence of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, in power in Tripoli.”
Al-Zarqa believes that “given the readiness of the laws and the convergence of a significant bloc of state members, the path proposed by the Parliament to quickly form a new unified government is viable.” He urged the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) not to waste more time, and to decisively introduce a new initiative. This should facilitate dialogue between the two councils regarding the formation of this new government, defining its tasks, tenure, and ultimately leading to the elections.
Libya has been grappling with political instability and conflict since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The political landscape is fragmented, with two major factions vying for control: the GNU in Tripoli, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east.
The Parliament, also based in the east, and the HCS in Tripoli, are key institutions in the ongoing political dialogue. Efforts to hold elections and form a unified government have been marred by disagreements over legal frameworks and power-sharing mechanisms.
UNSMIL has been actively involved in facilitating negotiations and peace processes to resolve these conflicts. Against this backdrop, accusations from MP’s like Al-Zarqa highlight the deep-rooted challenges in reaching a consensus on the electoral process, and the broader political reconciliation in Libya.