On Thursday, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) Ageela Saleh revealed a forthcoming agreement with the High Council of State (HCS) on the mechanism for forming a government. This development signals a significant step toward unifying Libya’s fragmented governance structure and setting the stage for national elections.
In press statements, Saleh revealed that continuous discussions with the High Council are close to yielding a finalized agreement. The proposed framework requires any candidate for government leadership to secure endorsements from 20 members of the State and 10 members of the House, ensuring widespread political support.
Saleh emphasized the readiness of the electoral process and the critical need for a single government, accountable to the House of Representatives. He criticized the current situation of having dual governments in the East and West, describing it as an obstacle to holding elections. He also expressed urgency in proceeding with the electoral preparations without waiting for a new UN envoy, which he believes would only delay the process.
Looking ahead, the House Speaker is optimistic about conducting elections before the year’s end and has called for international and regional support, especially following proactive steps taken by the Arab League.
He also touched upon the ineffective international interventions that have, in his view, failed to contribute constructively to resolving Libya’s crises. He advocated for a Libya-led process, adhering to the constitutional declaration and the political agreement, which he believes would expedite positive outcomes.
A key meeting in Cairo, hosted under the auspices of the Arab League with Libyan leadership including Mohamed al-Mnifi fi, head of the Presidential Council, and Mohamed al-Takala, head of the High Council of State, has energized the political process. Saleh remarked that the meeting underscored a unanimous agreement on the importance of forming a government capable of managing the electoral process.
The Cairo dialogue also reinforced Libya’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial unity, rejecting any adverse external influences on Libya’s political affairs. A technical committee was agreed upon to review electoral law amendments within a specified timeframe, a crucial step toward ensuring that a unified government can oversee the forthcoming elections effectively.
