Preparations for Libya vote met with high wave of incitement, low public awareness
Libya faces major challenges with its independent Election Commission accepting the applications of presidential hopefuls.
This is especially true in the light
of the incitement made by the State Council which is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ordinary Libyans are also little
aware of the importance of the electoral process.
This was why the latest
international conference on Libya in Paris called for bringing those who want
to sabotage the elections to account.
World leaders attending the
conference also called for a peaceful political transition in Libya.
Eligibility
Commission Head, Emad al-Sayeh, has
reiterated presidential candidacy terms.
According to him, presidential
candidates have to be over 35 years of age.
Candidates also need to present
proof that they do not occupy any public posts.
He noted that candidates have to
prove that they do not have a dual nationality, unless they have official
permission.
The Electoral Commission is due to
announce the list of presidential candidates on November 23 and 24.
On November 25 and 26, the
commission will start receiving appeals against any of the candidates whose
applications would be approved.
An election rerun will be held in
February of next year, if none of the presidential candidates obtains 51% of
the vote that will be held on December 24.
The parliamentary elections will be
held in February as well.
The United Nations Mission in Libya
underscored, meanwhile, the need to hold the elections on time.
The mission also called for making
proper preparations for the elections.
"We closely follow ongoing
efforts to finalize the legal framework for the elections," the mission
said in a statement recently.
It called on the Libyan House of
Deputies to approve the necessary amendments to election laws to pave the way
for holding the elections on time.
The mission also called for holding free,
fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections, in line
with the Libyan Road Map, Security Council Resolutions 2570 and 2571, and the outcome
of the second Berlin conference on Libya.
The Libyan Presidential Council has
welcomed the results of the Paris conference on Libya.
The conference, it said, had come at
a critical time when Libyans look forward to charting the future of their
country through a peaceful transition of power and lasting stability.
"Libyan institutions are also
doing everything possible to pave the road for holding a comprehensive
electoral process," the council said.
It added that fulfilling this
process would enhance confidence among all parties.
