Presidential candidacy of Saif al-Islam in Libya: "The son Gaddafi has his chances"
Saif al-Islam Kadhafi, April 27, 2014. MAHMUD TURKIA / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
It is a candidacy that leaves neither the Libyans nor the international community indifferent.
The son of the former dictator Muammar Gaddafi can finally stand in the presidential election, scheduled for December 24 in Libya.
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Saif al-Islam had first seen his file rejected by the High Electoral Commission, since it is necessary to have a clean criminal record.
The ex-dictator's son was sentenced to death in 2011 for suppressing the revolt against his father's regime, but he was subsequently granted an amnesty.
Today, he remains prosecuted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
After seeing his file rejected, Saif al-Islam appealed and his candidacy
was finally validated
Thursday, December 2.
Contacted by RFI, Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World, considers that the Gaddafi son is a "
serious candidate
".
“
He has his chances insofar as Saif al-Islam Kadhafi first benefited from a fairly significant support from several tribes: his own tribe, but also the very important tribe, based in the East, of his mother.
"
“
Saif al-Islam has always maintained important relations with some of the military officers who joined Marshal Haftar and others who remained behind.
He is still profiled as a moderate man, the man of the opening of the Gaddafi regime and, lastly, also enjoys international support.
"
“
Russia has never hidden, in any case, its wish to see Saif al-Islam play an important role.
He also has very important support on the Egyptian side!
The Egyptians sent several emissaries to negotiate with Saif al-Islam as well.
"
“
This is an additional element of discord within Libyan society which will complicate the task, of course, of the favorite candidates, like Haftar and like the former Minister of the Interior.
It will limit the electoral reservoir and it will also hamper certain neighboring states, certain Western powers which have no interest in the Libyan regime's slaughterhouse being brought to power
”.
Read also: Libya: the Court of Appeal restores the candidacy of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi for the presidential election
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Libya
Muammar Gaddafi