The National Forces for Change in Libya has proposed holding the postponed elections sequentially, starting with parliamentary elections.
The proposal was made during a meeting between the United Nations secretary-general’s special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams; the coordinator for the UN Special Mission in Libyan (UNSMIL), Raisedon Zenenga; and representatives of the National Forces for Change.
In a Twitter post, Williams stated that the National Forces for Change presented their proposal for a sequential approach to the electoral process, starting with parliamentary elections.
“We reiterated the need to keep the electoral process moving forward and realize the aspirations of the 2.8 m Libyan citizens who registered to vote,” she added.
Libya’s presidential elections were scheduled to take place on Dec. 24 under a U.N. road map, but the country’s elections commission proposed a one-month delay, citing inadequacies in electoral legislation and appeals related to candidates’ eligibility.
On its part, the House of Representatives (parliament) proposed a six-month postponement of the vote.
Rival parties in Libya have been at loggerheads over whether the presidential and parliamentary elections should take place simultaneously or one after the other.
It is hoped that the upcoming elections will lead to the end of the armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.
On December 22, the electoral commission said on Wednesday that it was proposing the new date of 24 January for the presidential election after “liaising” with parliament.
According to Richard Norland, US ambassador to Libya, the US shares the disappointment of Libyan voters.
Libyan leaders should, according to him, “address all legal and political obstacles expediently in order to hold elections”.
Col Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, was rejected by the electoral commission, but his lawyer said a court overturned the decision.
Also unclear was whether Gen Khalifa Haftar could run for president.
Military prosecutors urged the electoral commission to stop processing his application until he is questioned about human rights abuses.
In western Libya, a court sentenced him to death in absentia for bombing a military college in 2019.
