Why is the Libyan parliament speaker urging for an immediate presidential election?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aguila Saleh urges immediate presidential elections in Libya.
- Peaceful protests across Libyan cities reflect the population's desire for change.
- The calls for elections aim to preserve national unity and meet citizens' aspirations.
- Libya remains divided between two rival governments since 2011.
- Support for the protests is echoed by the parliament and other officials.
Tripoli, Nov 29 (NationPress) Aguila Saleh, the speaker of Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives, urged the High National Elections Commission of Libya to promptly enact the law regarding direct presidential elections and schedule the presidential vote without delay.
In a statement shared on the official Facebook page of the speaker's media office on Friday, Saleh conveyed the parliament's endorsement of the peaceful protests that erupted in various Libyan regions on Friday evening, advocating for the swift organization of presidential elections, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The declaration underscored that these protests embody "the will of the Libyan populace, which serves as the foundation of authority."
Saleh reiterated that hastening the elections is crucial for safeguarding the nation’s unity and its institutions, averting ongoing division, and fulfilling citizens' desires to establish a stable state.
Earlier that Friday, numerous Libyan cities, including those in eastern and southern regions, experienced significant peaceful demonstrations where citizens insisted on the urgent execution of presidential elections and their right to select their political leadership.
Since the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided between two opposing governments—one in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the other based in the east, overseen by Osama Hammad, as appointed by the House of Representatives.
In an official statement released this Friday evening, Mesbah Douma Awhida, the Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, expressed complete support for the public movement advocating for the expedited conduct of both presidential and parliamentary elections, urging the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to act without delay.