Agreement between key Libyan institutions to hold national elections

Written by: Mohamed Ragab

Libya’s main political institutions have reached a new consensus on moving forward with national elections, in a move that observers consider an important development on the road to ending the political division that has plagued the country for years.

The agreement came during meetings that included representatives of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, with the presence and follow-up of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, where participants discussed a number of contentious issues related to the electoral process and the legal frameworks regulating it.

Elections are at the forefront of efforts to reach a political solution.

The participants in the meetings affirmed that holding presidential and parliamentary elections represents the most realistic path to ending the successive transitional phases and renewing the political legitimacy of Libyan institutions.

The participating parties stressed the need to complete the necessary legal and technical arrangements to ensure that comprehensive and transparent elections are held that are acceptable to the various political forces, in order to contribute to strengthening stability and rebuilding state institutions.

Observers of Libyan affairs believe that reaching an agreement on elections is one of the most prominent and long-awaited issues, after several previous attempts faltered due to disagreements over electoral laws, candidacy requirements, and the distribution of powers among different institutions.

UN support for the electoral process

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya welcomed the progress made during the recent consultations, stressing the importance of continuing the dialogue between the Libyan parties to reach final understandings that would allow elections to be held as soon as possible.

The mission stressed that the elections represent an essential part of the political process aimed at unifying Libyan institutions and ending the state of division, calling on all parties to prioritize the national interest and work in a spirit of consensus.

She also stressed the importance of providing a suitable political and security environment that ensures the participation of all citizens and enables the High National Elections Commission to perform its duties effectively.

Challenges still exist

Despite the positive atmosphere that accompanied the meetings, observers believe that the road to elections still faces a number of challenges, most notably completing the agreement on some legal and executive aspects, in addition to ensuring the commitment to the results of the electoral process by the various political parties.

Security and economic challenges also stand out among the factors that may affect the course of the electoral process, especially in light of the continued division between some institutions and the multiplicity of centers of influence in the country.

Hopes for an end to the transitional phase

Libyans hope that this agreement will be a practical step towards ending years of political division and conflict that have affected stability and development in the country since 2011.

Analysts believe that the success of the upcoming elections could open the door to a new phase of political and institutional stability, and help to unify state institutions and strengthen development and reconstruction efforts.

With continued international and regional support for the political process, attention remains focused on the next steps that the Libyan parties will take to translate this consensus into practical measures that pave the way for long-awaited elections.