Libya's High Council of State and several political parties have rejected the outcomes of the “4+4” election committee, saying the committee’s conclusions cannot override Libya’s constitutional declaration, existing laws and the authority of legitimate state institutions.

The “4+4” Committee, consisting of four representatives from eastern Libya and four from western Libya, was formed as part of efforts to overcome the country’s long-running political deadlock and address disputes related to the electoral process.

On August 30, the committee announced an agreement in Tripoli aimed at restructuring the board of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and resolving disagreements over laws related to presidential and parliamentary elections.

In a joint national document issued on Monday, the High Council of State and political parties stated that the committee’s outcomes should not undermine Libya’s constitutional framework, existing legislation or the powers of state institutions.

Calls for consensus on electoral process

The participants called for broad national consensus on the independence and neutrality of the HNEC, as well as the constitutional and legal foundations needed for holding elections.

They warned that unilateral arrangements and parallel political paths could deepen political divisions, stressing that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) should continue to play a supportive and facilitating role while respecting Libya’s sovereignty and national ownership of the political process.

Libya has remained politically divided since the 2011 uprising that led to the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s government, with rival political forces struggling for years to agree on a unified roadmap for national elections.

Presidential and parliamentary elections planned for December 2021 were postponed due to disputes over election laws, candidate eligibility and the powers of state institutions. The delay has prolonged the political crisis and continued divisions between rival authorities in the country.(ILKHA)