The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Libya, Abdullah Bathyli, called on Libya’s House of Representatives and State Council to “deal in good faith” to reach a road map for elections by mid-June.
“This new commitment will put the two councils to the test, and they will be accountable to Libya and the international community,” he added at a press conference in Tripoli on Saturday, during his clarifications on his initiative to hold Libyan elections.
Constitutional amendment
Bathyli praised what he called the “rapid pace” with which the House and State adopted the 13th constitutional amendment, and their agreement to mandate a 6-member committee from each to discuss electoral laws.
It’s better to come late than not,” the international envoy added on this pointing out that the new “6+6” committee, if it works just as quickly, could come out a constitutional base for the implementation of elections, which would represent real progress, restore confidence in both houses, and enable the Commission to hold elections before the end of 2023.
High level team
On UN support for the previous steps, Bathyli said the high-level team, which he proposed to be formed during his briefing to the UN Security Council last month, would provide support to the “6+6” committee human and logistically, as well as the Electoral Commission.
On the advantage of this high-level panel from previous committees, he says it is “a new way to ensure Libyan ownership of the electoral process, as it will work in a dynamic way with all parties for inclusive, safe and fair elections this year.”
UNMIL will not choose the team, but rather the parties and constituencies concerned with political and security issues who will name who will act on their behalf, and the mission will facilitate negotiations to reach compromises, according to Pathéle.
“Not imposed from the outside”
Bathelly denied that the team’s goal was to change any official positions, continuing: “The only goal is to facilitate compromises on contentious issues to facilitate the holding of elections.”
He also stressed that this team has nothing to do with any solution imposed from abroad, and does not go beyond the Libyan parties or institutions, but includes them all and expands the scope of negotiations with key actors.
The international envoy urges Libyan leaders to seize this opportunity to “meet the aspirations of their people.”
Conditions for holding elections
Patheli cited conditions for the completion of the stalled elections for years, saying that besides the legal and constitutional means necessary to hold them, they need to “improve the security environment,” “ensure the freedom of movement of candidates,” “commit to free competition,” and “agree to accept the electoral process and its results.”
In this direction, the UN mission’s election support team will develop a “code of conduct” to be adhered to by the parties and signed by the candidates.