Despite the great public and official welcome for the UN mission’s announcement to set a date for the parliamentary and presidential elections, considering this step is a basic requirement for the supporters of the civilian state, which is based on restoring power to the people through elections.
However, many followers and observers believe that it is too early to talk about the elections amid the blurring of the current scene in the Libyan Dialogue Forum in Tunisia regarding the choice of the executive authority, in addition to the difference in the constitutional base on which the elections are supposed to be held.
Elections on the anniversary of independence
The UN Acting Envoy to Libya “Stephanie Williams” announced, during a press conference via closed circuit television, that the participants in the Libyan Dialogue Forum in Tunisia agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 24, 2021.
Williams added that the participants agreed to establish a new presidential council and an executive body to manage the transitional period, and to hold elections on this agreed day, noting that the tasks of these transitional bodies were discussed during the meeting.
Faced with obstacles
Writer and blogger Farag Farkash believes that announcing a date for the upcoming elections on December 24, 2021 implies a reversal of the mission’s previous position that the preliminary period would be 18 months, with the possibility of extending it to another 6 months, to one year, as well as indicating that the consensus in the dialogue committee still faces hurdles.
Farkash added, in a statement to Arraed, that the issue of the constitution has also become controversial, for although the elected committee of 60 completed the constitution and the House of Representatives had issued a referendum law where it was natural to leave the matter to the people to say their word, but in all cases there are two options available, The first is to amend some articles of the constitution before it is put to the referendum, and the second is to present it as it is and approve it for a specific period if it is accepted, and to be amended later, or to issue another constitution, but Farkash added that he does not believe that the issue will be resolved in the Tunis dialogue, and it will be postponed to a later date.
Not well thought
Journalist and writer Ali Abo Zaid believes that setting the date for the elections on December 24, 2021 is not thoughtful and rushed, as there are measures and procedures that must be taken into consideration before setting the date for the elections, and this date seems to have not considered these matters.
Abo Zaid indicated in a statement to Arraed that working to complete the constitutional path is the most appropriate and least problematic solution, and it is an entitlement that must be accomplished, especially as it is the product of an elected body. Therefore, discussions about this path should focus on the approval of a balanced referendum law.
Excluded option
Journalist and writer Abdullah al-Kabeer said that it is unlikely to hold any elections if a new authority is agreed upon, as the elections will be delayed, division and chaos will continue, while if consensus fails over a new authority, and the current presidential council remains, elections can take place even before this date.
In a statement to Arraed, Al-Kabeer explained that without real public pressure there will be no elections, and with regard to the available constitutional base, he believes that it will be the constitutional declaration and the issuance of a law by consensus between Parliament and the Supreme Council of State.
Constitution first
For his part, the head of the Supreme Council of State, Khaled Al-Mishri, announced that he welcomed the holding of elections on the independence anniversary which corresponds on December 24, 2021, but he believes that the referendum on the draft constitution should precede, and he suggested that it takes place on February 17th.
Al-Mishri added, in a tweet on Twitter, that they are keen that Libya, after all these crises and suffering, finally move to the desired stage of stability on firm and solid foundations.
