The head of the Supreme Council of State in Libya, Khaled Al-Mashri, expressed his hope to postpone the presidential elections due to what he called real fears that the country will enter a state of instability, after the council approved two draft laws for the presidential and legislative elections scheduled to take place at the end of this year, and a draft constitutional rule.

Al-Mishri suggested - in a press conference held today, Monday - that presidential elections be held after the referendum on the constitution, saying that he is not against electing the president from the people, but there are fears of some kind of fraud and the creation of a new dictator.

Al-Mashri pointed out that the level of consensus in the Supreme Council of State regarding the constitutional base and electoral laws has reached almost unanimity, rejecting the accusations against the council of obstruction.

Al-Mashri added that the Supreme Council adheres to the terms of reference stipulated in the political agreement, pointing out that the House of Representatives was issuing laws in violation of the political agreement.

He stressed adherence to holding the elections on time, pointing out that the Libyan people pin high hopes on these elections, and that holding them on the specified date is possible and appropriate.

The parliament had approved - during a session held on Sunday at its headquarters in the capital, Tripoli - two bills for the election of the president and the election of the National Assembly, consisting of two chambers of representatives and sheikhs.

The two bills stipulated that the candidate for the presidency or membership of the National Assembly must not be a member of the military, or that at least two years have passed since the end of his service.

The Supreme Council also approved the draft constitutional rule on the basis of which the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 24 will be held.

A spokesman for the Council said that the three projects will be referred to the House of Representatives for consideration of consensus.


This step by the Supreme Council - which represents a second chamber of Parliament and must be consulted before passing any law - comes about 10 days after the House of Representatives approved the presidential election law, which allows soldiers to run for the position of head of state.

The law - which was referred to the High Elections Commission - includes an article in which it states that "a military person can run for the position of president on the condition that he stops working and exercising his duties three months before the election date, and that "if he is not elected, he returns to his previous work."

Parliament accusations

In previous statements, Al-Mishri accused the House of Representatives of bypassing the 2015 political agreement by issuing the presidential election law without a consensus between the two legislative bodies in the country. House Speaker Aguila Saleh is facing accusations of serving retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, who is expected to run for the presidential elections.

On the other hand, the Libyan House of Representatives began a session to discuss a request to withdraw confidence from the Government of National Unity.

The spokesman for the Libyan House of Representatives, Abdullah Belhaiq, announced the start of the session in the eastern city of Tobruk, to discuss the request submitted by 45 members, in the presence of the Speaker of the House, Aguila Saleh and his two deputies.