Libyan parliament refuses to set election date after postponement
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The Libyan elections, which were meant to take place last week, meet an uncertain fate.
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"We want elections & democracy": Benghazi graffiti.
On Monday, the Libyan parliament refused to set a date for the presidential elections which were meant to take place last week.
To set the date of the election on December 24 was said to be "impossible" by the Libyan House of Representatives last Wednesday.
On Monday, the parliamentary committee presented a report saying that setting a new date for the elections at this point is too risky - this statement was a direct retort to the High National Commission (HNEC), which suggested that votes be held on January 24, 2022.
In its report, the parliamentary committee said the date of January 24 was chosen on the basis of "political" considerations, adding that an election then "would have the same fate" as that set for Friday.
Libya condemns UK interference
On Saturday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Libyan Parliament condemned a statement which has been lately issued by the United Kingdom's embassy in Libya, considering it “an unacceptable interference in the internal Libyan affairs."
Furthermore, the committee affirmed the House of Representatives' eagerness to fulfill the Libyan people's aspirations to hold presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible and to resolve all obstacles standing in the way," noting that "the Libyan House of Representatives has the option of choosing a new government or maintaining the current one, and everyone must respect the rules of governance."
These remarks came after the British embassy in Libya tweeted: “The UK strongly supports the Libya-led and Libya-owned electoral process and the work of the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser. We must preserve and build on the progress towards peace and stability achieved through the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement and the LPDF Roadmap.”
1- The UK strongly supports the #Libya-led and Libya-owned electoral process and the work of the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser. We must preserve and build on the progress towards peace and stability achieved through the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement and the LPDF Roadmap. pic.twitter.com/PeChKTRdn0
— UK in Libya🇬🇧🇱🇾 (@UKinLibya) December 24, 2024
