Libya’s 6+6 Joint Committee, formed by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to draft election laws called on the Libyan people to “unite against foreign interference schemes and defend the laws.”
The committee emphasised that the “election laws were drafted consensually and legally. Consequently, no international entity has the right to reject a process under Libyan sovereignty. Any local objections should be raised through constitutional appeals or formal requests for amendments, following legislative procedures.”
The committee stressed that “any attempt to revisit the election laws aims solely at undermining achieved consensus, halting the electoral process, and returning to square one.”
The statement reiterated the committee’s stance on the UN’s role, emphasizing its duty to support national institutions, without replacing them.
“The dialogue initiated by the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily lacked objective criteria in its selection, lacking legal basis or legitimate cover, rendering any results subject to legal challenges within Libya’s independent judiciary,” the statement added.
Additionally, the committee urged both the Parliament and the HCS to “engage in direct dialogue to reach consensus on further election steps. As well as thwarting any attempt to exploit the UN Mission (UNSMIL), and prevent a repetition of past unsuccessful models, which only prolonged the crisis.”
Last month, Bathily introduced an initiative aimed at resolving Libya’s political deadlock. He acknowledged that while the initiative faces considerable resistance, it is a critical step towards national reconciliation.
A key part of this initiative is the proposed meeting of five principal Libyan figures, essential to resolving the crisis. These are Mohamed Al-Mnifi, Head of the Presidential Council; Ageela Saleh, Speaker of the Parliament; Mohamed Takala, Head of the HCS; Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU); and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
This agreement signals a significant diplomatic effort towards bringing stability to Libya. Bathily’s collaboration with Tunisia reflects a broader international commitment to aiding Libya in its transition towards a democratic, and stable future.
The focus of this initiative is to create a consensual and inclusive path to elections, seen as crucial to establishing legitimate governance in Libya. This process is expected to bring together different political factions, addressing the divisions that have plagued the nation since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.