Ageela Saleh, Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, welcomed the proposal presented by UN envoy Hanna Tetteh to establish a new unified government tasked with preparing the country for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.
He described the step as “essential for unifying the executive authority and strengthening national unity.”
In his statement, Saleh voiced full support for the initiative, stressing that the creation of a single executive body is necessary to ensure state institutions operate under one leadership, safeguard Libya’s sovereignty, and meet the aspirations of the people for security, stability, and development.
At the same time, he emphasized that the government led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad remains the only legitimate authority, as it was endorsed by the House of Representatives.
Tetteh outlined the UN’s roadmap before the Security Council on Thursday, emphasizing three key pillars. The first is the creation of a sound and technically reliable electoral framework.
The second is the formation of a new, unified government to manage the transitional period and oversee preparations for elections. The third involves an inclusive dialogue allowing broad participation by Libyans, youth, women, civil society, and other groups, to address unresolved issues and long-standing drivers of conflict.
She explained that the plan will be carried out in gradual stages over a period of 12 to 18 months. Early steps include restructuring the High National Elections Commission to address gaps in its leadership and resolving the obstacles that prevented the planned elections in 2021.
By aligning himself with the UN proposal, Saleh signaled cautious openness to international mediation while reasserting the authority of the parliament and the legitimacy of its appointed government.
