The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced the closure of its nationwide poll aimed at gauging public opinion on Libya’s political future. The survey, which ran for two months, received more than 22,500 responses.
The poll invited Libyans to express preferences on four options proposed by an Advisory Committee of legal, political, and constitutional experts. The committee’s goal was to identify a pathway that would help the country move towards a government with democratic legitimacy after years of political stalemate.
UNSMIL said the findings, alongside insights from an additional 3,881 Libyans consulted through telephone and group discussions, would shape its forthcoming political roadmap. The Mission is expected to present this roadmap during the 21 August UN Security Council briefing.
“It was essential to capture voices from across Libya’s diverse society,” said Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. “The UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap is about enabling a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. With these results, we hope to facilitate a peaceful transition that reflects the preferences of the Libyan people.”
According to the results, 42% of participants favoured holding presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time, as soon as possible. This option, labelled Advisory Committee Option 1, was seen as the most effective way to end the political deadlock that has persisted for more than a decade.
The second most popular choice, supported by 23% of respondents, was Advisory Committee Option 4. This proposal called for the dissolution of existing institutions, the creation of a new dialogue forum, and the formation of a 60-member constituent assembly. The assembly would draft a temporary constitution and electoral laws to pave the way for national elections.
The results underscore the public’s demand for urgent elections as a solution to Libya’s prolonged crisis.
