Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC) has welcomed recent steps taken by the Libyan House of Representatives to fill vacant positions within the Commission’s board, amid growing political tensions over the management of the electoral process.
In an official statement, HNEC responded to objections raised by the High Council of State, which had rejected the parliament’s decision, describing it as a unilateral action. The Commission stressed that the process of filling vacancies is governed by the law under which it was established in 2013 and is not linked to the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement.
The Commission said that attempts by some political actors to invoke the political agreement in this context serve narrow agendas and have no legal basis. It emphasized that the procedure to complete vacant seats falls squarely within existing legislation regulating HNEC’s work and institutional structure.
HNEC further clarified that its statement does not seek to defend the continuation of the current leadership but rather aims to present facts in response to what it described as organized campaigns questioning its independence, integrity, and credibility. According to the Commission, these campaigns risk undermining public confidence in the electoral process at a critical stage.
The Commission also called on political elites and activists involved in what it termed “campaigns of doubt” to exercise accuracy when addressing public opinion. It urged them to review all relevant legal frameworks and legislative texts governing HNEC before making claims that could mislead voters and deepen political divisions.
Earlier, the High Council of State issued a statement rejecting the House of Representatives’ vote to fill vacant HNEC seats, arguing that the move suffers from legal and procedural flaws. The Council reiterated its position that previous understandings between joint committees of both chambers require the replacement of the entire HNEC board to ensure independence and restore trust in the electoral pathway.
The Council warned that unilateral actions affecting electoral entitlements constitute a breach of political consensus and risk further fragmentation of Libya’s already polarized political landscape.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives spokesperson Abdullah Blihiq announced that lawmakers voted on Monday to approve the completion of vacant seats within HNEC. He added that the Commission’s budget has been referred to the Planning, Finance, and General Budget Committee for review, ahead of its resubmission to parliament during Tuesday’s session.
