Will Libya hold elections in 2023? Details
Domestic and international changes and movements are continuing in the Libyan political arena in order to hold elections in 2023.
Parties consent
The State Advisory Council of Libya announced the approval of the 13th amendment to the Constitutional Declaration, which was approved by the House of Representatives a few weeks ago, after a long delay. However, the approval of the constitutional amendment by the State Council has no great value, considering that the House of Representatives originally approved the amendment and published it in the official gazette a few days ago and it has become effective and applicable.
United Nations Initiative
However, the approval followed the initiative announced by UN envoy to Libya Abdoullay Bathily, during his briefing to the Security Council last Monday to hold elections in 2023.
Bathily proposed the formation of a high-level steering committee in Libya to develop a roadmap for elections in 2023, after the House of Representatives and the High Council of State failed to agree on a constitutional basis for elections.
He said he would form the committee with representatives of political institutions, key political figures, tribal leaders and civil society organizations.”
Bathily justified his bid to form the committee by saying that Libya’s political elite is in a real crisis of legitimacy, and that most state institutions have been delegitimized for years, pointing out the need to spearhead a solution to the crisis of legitimacy.
Several countries supported the initiative, including the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates, while others, such as Egypt, rejected it. Egypt affirmed its support for the decisions of the House of Representatives, the only elected and legitimate body in Libya.
Speed Approved
Observers believe that the State Council rushed to approve the 13th constitutional amendment after Batelli announced his initiative, although it was postponed in the past, for fear that he and the House of Representatives would again override the UN mission.
Observers point out that the Libyan State Council is aiming to appear to be in agreement with the House of Representatives to hold elections this year after providing the constitutional basis upon which they will be held, and to prevent UNSMIL from taking any step to bypass them.
The situation in Libya
A writer specializing in Libyan affairs, Ali Tarfaya, says: There has been a political crisis in Libya since late 2021 following the cancelation of the scheduled elections, amidst disputes over laws and the withdrawal of the support of the House of Representatives based in the east of the country from the interim government. He noted that peacemaking efforts have since focused on making the House of Representatives and the High Council of State agree on a constitutional basis for the elections and on electoral laws.
He said the State Council’s vote on the constitutional amendment is a positive step, despite the presence of obstructionist forces that do not want to reach agreement with the House of Representatives and are removed from foreign interference, which wants to impose a particular approach.
He added that the Council of Representatives will respond to the State Council by forming a committee to draft electoral laws, pointing out that it is necessary to complete all the benefits between the two councils, such as the issue of sovereign posts, the formation of a unified government, and the unification of the military institution, in order to proceed towards the holding of elections before the end of this year.
He stressed that Libya needs a smooth election law that excludes no one, and that ultimately the choice is up to the Libyan people to make the election results acceptable.
