A new United Nations online survey has found that 86% of Libyans are ready to head to the polls immediately if national elections are held in the current period, reflecting strong public demand for ending Libya’s prolonged political deadlock.
The survey was conducted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) between November 12 and 22 as part of UN-led consultations linked to the ongoing “structured dialogue” process aimed at reviving Libya’s political track.
According to the survey results, more than 70% of respondents believe that their political participation can have a direct impact on decision-making, indicating broad public confidence in the electoral process as a pathway toward change and institutional legitimacy.
UNSMIL said the findings demonstrate a clear willingness among Libyans to engage in the political process and move beyond years of institutional division and stalled transition efforts.
The consultations stressed the importance of organizing elections in a phased manner, grounded in a clear constitutional and legal framework. Respondents also emphasized the need to establish an electoral commission that enjoys broad public acceptance, alongside the formation of a unified, time-bound transitional government with a limited mandate.
Ensuring a secure electoral environment emerged as a central concern. The survey underscored the need to control or neutralize armed formations, with international support, to guarantee safe conditions for voting across the country.
Participants also highlighted the necessity for all parties, including armed groups, to commit in advance to accepting election results. The consultations called for a comprehensive national plan to secure the electoral process, supported by a binding code of conduct, and for strict adherence to the existing ceasefire agreement.
The results further stressed the importance of creating an inclusive electoral environment that guarantees the participation of women, marginalized groups, and persons with disabilities, alongside transparent dispute-resolution mechanisms and neutral election monitoring.
To deter obstruction, the consultations proposed clear deterrence measures, including internationally backed sanctions against spoilers, asset freezes, controls on public spending, and structural reforms to address the armed groups file through integration or dissolution.
