The Libyan Crisis is still unresolved… Will elections save it?

The organization of presidential and legislative elections is the first and last solution for the international community, as a single solution to the crisis of political, institutional and military division that is gripping the country.

International initiative

A report by the Roaya network revealed that the proposal of the United Nations envoy to Libya, Abdoullay Bathily, to establish a high-level steering committee in Libya, with the aim of holding general elections by the end of this year, is considered the most important breakthrough of the stalemate. “I have decided to launch an initiative aimed at enabling the holding of presidential and legislative elections during 2023, and in this regard I intend to establish a high-level steering committee in Libya,” Bathily said in his briefing to the UN Security Council on February 27.

“Bathily based his argument on Article 64 of the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement, and on agreements previously reached by the Libyan parties.” The article states: “After the adoption of this Agreement, the Libyan political dialog shall, upon request of any of the parties to the Agreement, convene an exception to consider what is believed to be a serious breach of one of its clauses.”

“Bathily’s initiative aims to bring together various Libyan stakeholders, including representatives of political institutions, prominent political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, security actors, and representatives of women and youth.”

Political failure

“Observers say Bathily’s move came after weary efforts by the country’s two main political bodies, the House of Representatives headed by Aguila Saleh and the High State Advisory Council headed by Khalid al-Mishri, failed to agree on a constitutional basis on which to conduct elections.” Bathily even stated that these objects have lost legitimacy, but according to the political agreement on which he based his initiative, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Council of State have legitimacy until general elections are held.

Suggested solutions

Dr. Mohamed Al Zubaidi, the Libyan political analyst, says that the Bathily initiative clashes with the efforts of the House of Representatives and the State, and may be a pressure card from the United Nations envoy to ensure the commitment of both Houses to finalize the constitutional base, confirming that the moves of Saleh and Al Mishri are aimed at blocking the choices of the United Nations envoy.

All of their efforts now are political maneuvers only to gain time and get out of the obstructionist position, because there are pressures being exerted on the House of Representatives and the State, and there are attempts by both sides to reach points of agreement and look into differences, such as the participation of military personnel in the elections and dual nationals.

It is imperative that the two councils reach a solution to draft a constitutional rule in order to avoid another path, he said, which the UN mission will start away from.