Libya's High National Elections Commission
Libya’s High National Elections Commission announced on Sunday that registration for presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 24 under a United Nations-backed roadmap would begin on Monday.
Wrangling over the election’s legal basis, as well as its date and candidate qualifications, has threatened to derail a peace process that was seen as Libya’s best hope in years for ending chronic instability and violence.
Potential candidates include Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the civil war’s eastern forces; Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the former dictator’s son; parliament speaker Aguila Saleh; and Fathi Bashagha, a former interior minister.
The United Nations peace process also resulted in the formation of an interim unity government and the appointment of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah as prime minister. He and other government officials vowed not to run in any December elections, but analysts say he may reconsider.
An election law proposed by the parliament in September was rejected by critics of the bodies, including other political entities, for failing to meet some of the conditions outlined in the United Nations roadmap.
The law called for the first round of presidential elections to be held in December, but it did not specify a date for parliamentary elections until January.
The election commission’s chairman, Emad al-Sayeh, who previously stated that parliamentary elections would take place within 30 days of the presidential election, said the legislature had provided amendments to the law.
He stated that registration for presidential candidates would be open until November 22 and for parliamentary candidates until December 7.