Libyan Minister of Education, Musa Al-Magaryef met with Emad Al-Sayah, the Head of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), to discuss the logistics and preparations for the upcoming municipal council elections. This marks a historic first, with HNEC overseeing these elections.
The officials reviewed the key aspects of Law No. 20 of 2023 and the electoral process, including the ambitious plan to conduct elections across 98 municipalities simultaneously next year.
A focal point of the discussion was the mobilisation of voter registration and public awareness campaigns. The Ministry of Education will support HNEC by providing a comprehensive list of educational institutions, which will serve as polling stations.
Both reiterated their commitment to continuous collaboration, ensuring the smooth execution of these elections. They emphasised the vital role these elections play in enhancing Libyan democracy and local governance.
Al-Magaryef affirmed his full support for the electoral process. He stressed the significance of using educational institutions as polling centers, thereby facilitating greater voter participation and enhancing the democratic process in Libya.
Earlier in December, 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, emphasising 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.”