The United Nations Special Adviser to Libya Stephanie Williams confirmed that the country does not need another prolonged transition period, while a parliamentary committee in Tobruk (eastern Libya) recommended choosing a new interim prime minister for the country.

During her meeting with the head of the Libyan High Council of State, Khaled Al-Mashri, in the capital, Tripoli, Williams said that "all parties should now focus on the electoral process."

The Libyan News Agency stated that during the meeting, developments related to the electoral process and ways to facilitate its conduct as soon as possible were discussed.

Al-Mashri stressed to the UN official that the priority is the procedures related to the electoral process, and that any amendment in the executive authority must be carried out in accordance with the constitutional declaration and the road map, in a manner that guarantees a clear constitutional and legal path towards achieving the electoral maturity.

Today, Monday, the UN official stated - in posts on Twitter - that any proposals to move forward must take into account the aspirations of 2.5 million Libyan voters, and that the elections should be organized within the specific time frame stipulated in the road map of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

2/2 I also re-emphasized that any proposals moving forward must take into account the aspirations of the 2.5 million Libyan voters to hold an electoral event within the specific timeframe stipulated in the roadmap of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

— Stephanie Turco Williams (@SASGonLibya) January 24, 2022

Interviews and statements

And yesterday, Williams met the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, where she said that the Libyan people want to end the transitional period, which lasted for years, and called on the members of the House of Representatives to assume their responsibility towards the Libyan people, and to set a new date and a clear path for the elections.

And earlier today, Aqila Saleh said that the Libyan government headed by Abdel Hamid Dabaiba has expired, and it cannot continue, indicating that if Dabaiba wants to return to the presidency, he must submit a new government to the House of Representatives.

Saleh added - during a session of the House of Representatives - that the House will present on Tuesday a mechanism for selecting a new prime minister.

As for Dabaiba, he said - during his participation in a seminar entitled "The Constitution First" yesterday in Tripoli - "Today we are in dire need of a constitution that protects the homeland and the citizen, and parliamentary and presidential elections in accordance with this constitution... The people want free elections that truly express their will, and they do not want to prolong the crisis and enter a stage new transition.

Parliament in Tobruk

A parliamentary committee in Tobruk said today, Monday, that Parliament should choose a new interim prime minister for the country, and suggested a vote in Parliament tomorrow to choose him.

The committee submitted its final report to Parliament today, which states that it will take at least 9 months to prepare for new elections, to avoid fraud and ensure security.

As a result of disagreements between the official Libyan institutions over the electoral law and the role of the judiciary in the electoral process, it was not possible to hold presidential and parliamentary elections that were scheduled for last December 24, and a new date for the elections has not yet been agreed upon.