By Sami Zaptia.
London, 12 February 2021:
Five Libyan political organizations called yesterday for international guarantees for the country’s planned 24 December elections. They includ the National Forces Alliance (NFA), the party of the former, and late, prime minister Mahmoud Jibril.
They hoped that the UNSMIL created Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) and its Committees, will complete the rest of the tasks entrusted to them, including agreeing on the constitutional basis and laws according to which direct parliamentary and presidential elections will be held, and work to implement the outputs of the work of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission and the need for all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave the country.
Binding UN Resolution, provision of security, political and legal election guarantees
They reminded all Libyan political and social parties of the importance of adhering to the deadline for holding the agreed-upon elections, intensifying efforts to overcome all obstacles that may face the electoral process, and called on the international community and UNSMIL to shoulder their responsibilities towards providing security, political and legal guarantees for elections, and to issue a UN resolution that binds all. The intertwined Libyan and international parties in Libyan affairs should not obstruct or threaten the electoral process, they added.
Unification, inclusivity, security, electoral competition, and mini-crisis government
They stressed that the next government should focus on unifying the sovereign and executive institutions and create an inclusive ground for Libyans to facilitate the way for the electoral process on time. It should also ensure a relatively stable security situation that allows space for fair electoral competition for all segments of society, which paves the way for the smooth handover of power for the next government emanating from an elected legislative institution. They said these tasks will only be accomplished through a mini-crisis government based on national competencies and a clear programme of action to implement the priorities of the (new) executive authority (Government of National Unity – GNU) according to the agreed (LPDF) Road Map.
Decentralization for better basic services
The political organizations also hoped that Libya’s municipalities will be granted broader service powers to reduce the centralization that exists in the state’s structure, to ensure that citizens enjoy basic services, and to alleviate the daily crises that afflict them, provided that the government is devoted to the sovereign sectors and works to remove obstacles to state building.
Finally, they reminded everyone that preserving the Libyan reconciliation path is no less important than making it, and that the next stage needs a greater concession between Libyans to get the country out of its current ordeal.
