Libya: Saleh proposes to amend the Constitutional Declaration and consider it a basis for elections

The Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, proposed amending the current constitutional declaration, and considering it “the constitutional basis for holding the postponed presidential and parliamentary elections.” In an official session of the Council in the city of Benghazi, he declared, “Communicating with the State Council and handing it a copy of this proposal,” expressing his hope that “the Council will support this amendment, taking into account the circumstances the country is going through.”

And after he urged members of the House of Representatives to “accelerate the completion of the constitutional rule and override all personal and regional interests.” Saleh called for “giving all national trends and currents the opportunity to express their opinion on this constitution, which must go through a referendum,” noting that “the drafting committee submitted the draft constitution to the High Electoral Commission, along with the referendum law.”

These statements came hours after the UN envoy, Abdullah Batili, announced that he had stressed, during talks he held over the past two days, with the heads of Parliament and the state, “the importance of the two chambers engaging constructively in putting the final touches on a constitutional framework that facilitates the conduct of elections,” pointing out that “ The most dangerous of them is that he will brief the UN Security Council on the 27th of this month on the latest developments in Libya, including the progress made on the constitutional framework.

Batelli had discussed, in a meeting he held with the head of the interim unity government, Abdel Hamid al-Dabaiba, “ways to end the political stalemate and prepare the country for comprehensive national elections this year,” noting that they “also discussed the responsibility of all actors in Libya in creating appropriate conditions for holding elections, starting with adopting constitutional framework. They also reviewed the government’s role in securing the elections.

During the meeting, Batili stressed “the need to adopt the best standards of transparency and good governance to ensure a fair distribution of Libyan wealth so that all Libyans benefit from it in an equitable manner.”

For his part, Dabaiba said that “Batili discussed with him the results of his recent meetings and consultations with local and international parties,” pointing to “discussing a number of serious proposals to complete the elections as soon as possible, and their emphasis on the necessity of issuing the constitutional rule; To focus professionally on the rest of the executive steps to reach the elections.

Al-Dabaiba said that, as Minister of Defense, he also discussed with the British Joint Forces Commander, General Jim Morris, and his assistant, Mark Taylor, “the results of the delegation’s meetings with the General Staff and the technical departments of the Ministry of Defense, regarding increasing cooperation in the military field, focusing on the training file, and raising technical competence.” in a number of disciplines. He also referred to research into what he described as “the UK’s contribution to unifying the military establishment.”

On the other hand, Issam Abu Zariba, the Minister of Interior in the parallel “stability government” headed by Fathi Bashagha, expressed his surprise at “the UN mission’s announcement of the readiness of the Ministry of Interior of the outgoing Dbeiba government to hold elections, despite everyone’s knowledge that its influence does not exceed the capital, Tripoli, and some areas.” adjacent to it.”

He refused to meet the UN envoy with the Minister of Interior of the government of Al-Dabiba, Imad Trabelsi, and confirmed his ministry’s readiness to hold the elections.

On the other hand, at least two people were killed in sudden clashes that erupted on Saturday evening between armed militias competing for areas of control and influence in the city of Zawiya, west of the capital, Tripoli. And the “National Safety Authority” in the city called on citizens to “not move and pass through the internal streets, except for necessity.”