To go to the elections next December 24 according to the roadmap, the head of the High National Elections Commission, Imad Al-Sayeh, affirms that any change affecting the Commission’s Council will confuse the plans that have been drawn up to implement the entitlements of the upcoming elections, pointing out that the law establishing the Commission stipulates that the Commission’s Board is responsible for setting strategies and drawing Policies.
Al-Sayeh clarified in a statement to Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the current council has put all requirements into effect, and that any change to this council hinders the continuation of its implementation, indicating that the commission has set the beginning of July as a maximum to start the process of implementing the December 24 elections, and that any delay in this date will confuses its plans towards the scheduled date, and will lead to a reconsideration of the plan developed for this purpose.
An “important” visit to Tripoli
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Joy Hood, confirmed during his visit to Tripoli, last Tuesday, that his country’s goal is to hold free and fair elections in Libya, without foreign interference, according to the roadmap of the political agreement.
“Hood” added during a press conference accompanied by Foreign Minister Najla Al-Manqoush, that they are in positive contact with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, to support the government for the establishment of fair and honest elections, calling on all internal and external parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, looking forward to seeing the constitutional base on which the elections will be held next December.
American and European support
The four major European countries and the United States issued a joint statement on the importance of supporting institutions to prepare for the elections on time, confirming that the current time is not the right time to make any changes that would disrupt the relevant bodies, which have a fundamental role in preparing for the elections during the timetable that Defined by Security Council Resolution 2570.
The joint statement issued in early May stressed that technical and logistical preparations are important and essential, in addition to political and security arrangements, and that the Security Council resolution called on the Libyan authorities and institutions, including the interim government and the House of Representatives, to facilitate the December 24 elections, and to agree on the constitutional base and the legal basis for elections by 1 July 2021.
Constitutional rule
The UN mission called for a virtual meeting of the Political Dialogue Forum on the 26th and 27th of May, to discuss the legal committee’s proposal regarding the constitutional base for the elections scheduled for December 24th.
The mission confirmed in a statement today that the results of the forum’s deliberations on the proposed constitutional base will be transmitted to the House of Representatives and the Supreme Council of the state, for consideration, taking into account the deadline for the constitutional and electoral framework set for next July 1.
The Mission’s emphasis on elections
The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Jan Kubis, renewed during his meeting, Monday, with the Minister for Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth Affairs and Development, James Cleverley, accompanied by high-ranking British officials, on the importance of holding national elections On December 24, as stipulated in the roadmap approved by the Forum.
“Jan Kubis”, during his meeting with Libyan officials in Libya last April, stressed the importance of holding national elections on December 24 out of respect for Libya’s sovereignty and in compliance with Security Council Resolution 2570.
“Kubis” stressed that holding the national elections in December is crucial for Libya’s transition towards unity, democracy, stability and prosperity, and urged in this regard the concerned Libyan institutions and parties, including the Parliament, to live up to the aspirations of the Libyan people and to expedite the completion of the necessary constitutional and legal frameworks.
