Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

Preparations for Libyan elections 90% completed: Elections chief

by French Press Agency - AFP

TRIPOLI Oct 08, 2021 - 4:13 pm GMT+3
Imad al-Sayeh, head of Libya's High National Election Commission (HNEC), pauses during an interview with AFP in Tripoli, Libya, on Oct. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Imad al-Sayeh, head of Libya's High National Election Commission (HNEC), pauses during an interview with AFP in Tripoli, Libya, on Oct. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by French Press Agency - AFP Oct 08, 2021 4:13 pm
RECOMMENDED
A photographer clicks a photo of Israeli and Palestinian activists singing and waving Palestinian flags during a demonstration at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, East Jerusalem, occupied Palestine, Jan 13, 2023. (Getty Images Photo)

China urges Israel to cease encroachment on Palestinian land

palestinian-cause

Preparations are almost finished for polls in war-torn Libya, the head of the electoral commission says, despite wrangling over voting laws and warnings the outcome could be contested.

"We are 80% or 90% ready" for the presidential and parliamentary votes in December and January, Imad al-Sayeh, head of the country's High National Election Commission (HNEC), said in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP). "I think there will be very strong turnout for these elections, especially as there will be direct presidential polls for the first time since Libya's independence" in 1951, he said at his office in Tripoli.

The polls are part of a United Nations-backed peace process that has seen a year of relative peace following a cease-fire between the eastern and western camps in the North African country.

The presidential and parliamentary votes were initially set for the same day – Dec. 24 – but on Tuesday parliament announced that the legislative elections, the country's first since 2014, would be postponed until January.

The HNEC said in August that more than 2.8 million Libyans had registered for the polls, out of a population of around 7 million. Libya has been ripped apart by violence since the 2011 overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, who had ruled the vast, oil-rich country with an iron fist since seizing power in a 1969 coup.

Libya has been in turmoil for a decade, with the last several years seeing a war between forces backing rival governments based in the east and west, supported by regional powers, foreign fighters and mercenaries. Russia, France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been some of the biggest supporters of putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar, while Turkey backed the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in the west.

Last October's cease-fire between rival eastern and western governments, after U.N.-hosted talks, led to a transitional government taking office in March to usher the country towards elections at the end of this year.

The eastern-based parliament in Tobruk this week finally adopted a law on legislative polls, but it was rejected the following day by the western-based upper chamber, the High Council of State in Tripoli.

The controversy came weeks after the parliament passed a bill on presidential polls that critics say bypassed due process and was tailor-made to favor a bid by Haftar.

Speaking Tuesday, al-Sayeh said the HNEC had yet to receive the law on legislative polls. After it does, "measures must be taken to move on with the next stage, registering candidacies," he said.

But with 11 weeks to go, hopefuls have yet to declare their candidacy and campaigning has not officially begun. Haftar, who led a year-long but ultimately unsuccessful armed campaign to seize the capital, is expected to stand in the presidential poll and has temporarily given up his military role as required by the new law. He is not the only controversial figure expected to launch a presidential bid.

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of Moammar, gave a rare interview to The New York Times in July in which he suggested he too may run.

Al-Sayeh said that "everyone has the right to take part in this process, and every Libyan with an identity number can stand for election in the presidential vote." He admitted that logistical problems remain but insisted they could be overcome.

"The most important thing is that all political actors agree on how the elections are run and that their results are accepted," he said. But analysts have warned that a contested outcome could threaten the collapse of Libya's fragile peace.

"On the day of the polls, the big question will be whether or not ... the integrity of the vote will be questioned," said Anas El Gomati, director of the Sadeq Institute, a Libya-based think tank.

RECOMMENDED
A photographer clicks a photo of Israeli and Palestinian activists singing and waving Palestinian flags during a demonstration at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, East Jerusalem, occupied Palestine, Jan 13, 2023. (Getty Images Photo)

China urges Israel to cease encroachment on Palestinian land

palestinian-cause
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    libyan civil war elections united nations
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Mayan pyramid and ruins in the famous Tikal National Park, Guatemala. (Getty Images Photo)

    Scientists discover 417 Mayan cities in Guatemala's forested area

    mayan-city
    People walk in front of an election campaign poster of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 22, 2023. (EPA Photo)

    Is economic policy overhaul in sight after Türkiye runoff?

    turkish-elections

    'Germany's arrest of Turkish journalists violates press freedom'

    TÜRKIYE-ELECTIONS

    Serbian army remains on high alert near Kosovo border

    europe
    No Image
    Cats, Nomad Games, hurricanes: Top shots of the week
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021