On Monday, Libyan Parliamentary Speaker Ageela Saleh announced that the country’s long-awaited presidential elections are scheduled to take place before the end of this year.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Parliament meetings in Cairo, Saleh confirmed that Libya is prepared for the elections and called for international support to ensure a successful and democratic process.
“The constitutional framework and necessary election laws have been established, and the Election Commission is fully prepared,” Saleh stated. “We have everything in place for electing the head of government, and we now look to the international community for encouragement and support in this critical journey.”
He expressed concerns about opposition from certain factions within Libya, which he claimed are hindering the electoral process. “There are those in Libya who are unwilling to relinquish their positions of power. As the leader of the only elected parliamentary body, I am advocating for immediate elections, as delaying further does not serve our national interest,” he emphasized.
He also stressed the importance of establishing a unified government before proceeding with the elections and noted that ongoing negotiations with the State Council are focused on finalizing the government formation mechanism.
The Libyan House Speaker outlined that a presidential candidate would require endorsements from at least 20 members of the State Council and 10 from the House of Representatives to proceed with their candidacy.
The forthcoming presidential elections are seen as a crucial step toward stabilizing Libya, which has been plagued by political fragmentation and conflict since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Establishing a democratically elected government is expected to unite the nation’s divided factions and help kickstart a comprehensive recovery process.
The international community, particularly bodies like the United Nations, has a vested interest in seeing a stable and democratic Libya, as it would contribute significantly to regional stability.
Saleh’s call for international support underscores the need for a collaborative effort to address the political and security challenges facing Libya, ensuring the elections can proceed transparently and fairly.
