5 Western countries called on the Libyan authorities to hold legislative and presidential elections on time at the end of the year, and warned against making any changes after calls for the election of a new president for the High Commission, which will supervise the elections.

The embassies of the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany said, in a joint statement Thursday, that they recall that the UN Security Council “called on the Libyan authorities and institutions, including the Government of National Unity and the House of Representatives, to facilitate the elections of December 24, 2021, and agree on the constitutional basis and the basis. Legal elections by July 1, 2021. "

The statement pointed out that "in addition to the political and security arrangements, technical and logistical preparations are important and essential" at a time when the national unity government has not yet begun preparing for the elections, even though it is the primary mission of this government.

The five embassies warned that "the time is not appropriate to make any changes that would disrupt the relevant bodies, which have a fundamental role in preparing for the elections, during the timetable set by the UN Security Council."

Candidates and Fears

This call coincides with the Technical Committee in the House of Representatives selecting candidates for the presidency of sovereign positions, including the High National Elections Commission.

During a press conference, Musa Al-Koni, Vice President of the Presidency Council, said that there are those who are calling for the election of a new head of the Electoral Commission.

He added, "We fear that this will affect the upcoming elections. We hope, even if a new person is assigned, that he should receive it at the end of the year after the commission completes the election procedures" so that there is no defect or delay in holding the elections on time.

For his part, a member of the Supreme Council of State, Abdul Qadir Hawili - told Anadolu Agency - that a change in the leadership of the Electoral Commission will not affect the conduct of the electoral process.

American support

In the same context, the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, supported the Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Al-Manqoush's call for the departure of foreign forces from her country, and considered it to be in the interest of Libya's sovereignty and stability.

He affirmed his country's continued support for the efforts of the Libyan Presidency Council to unify the military establishment, in addition to the national reconciliation file, and the organization of general elections at the end of this year.

It is noteworthy that, under the auspices of the United Nations, the Libyan parties elected during a meeting in Geneva in early February last year a new unified executive authority.

The new political authority is represented by a national unity government headed by Abdel Hamid Dabaiba and a presidential council led by Mohamed Al-Manfi, charged with - according to a roadmap sponsored by the United Nations - to end the political division, lead the transition, and prepare for presidential and legislative elections on December 24 next.