Benghazi— Speaking at a hearing of new candidates for Prime Minister who will be forming the new cabinet, Agila Saleh, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, called for international and local support for the ongoing process, warning that any delay to do so will further lead to chaos.
He said that holding parliamentary and presidential elections requires a single government, adding that the Parliament issued electoral laws, and therefore we have announced the acceptance of the applications of candidates for prime minister in agreement with the State Council.
“Everyone says that the solution to the Libyan crisis lies in holding presidential and parliamentary elections, and the majority knows that this requires a single government. The Security Council also calls for the formation of a single authority in Libya,” Saleh said.
To implement the Security Council’s recommendation, the parliament in coordination with the High Council of the State issued presidential and parliamentary elections laws along with the thirteenth amendment, Saleh added, pointing out that the Advisory Committee recommended the formation of a single government that would work to complete the electoral process and implement the outcomes of the 6+6 Committee.
“We hope to find support from the international community and UNSMIL because delaying the unification of power leads to chaos and harms the country’s unity,” he stressed. He said Ambassadors to Libya, UNSMIL and international organizations, Libyan dignitaries as well as civil society organizations will be invited to the selection session.
With regard to the candidates, the Speaker emphasized that no one has been prevented from running. Fourteen candidates submitted their credentials to the concerned parliamentarian committee.
Seven candidates presented their platforms: Ali Sasi, Mohamed Al-Muntasir, Othman Al-Basir, Mohamed Al-Mazoughi, Abdelhakim Baio, Fadhil Al-Amin, and Abdelkarim Muqayq. Seven more candidates are expected to present their platforms on Wednesday, bringing the total to 14 candidates for prime minister.
Mr. Saleh pointed out that candidates had received endorsements from more than 100 members of the House of Representatives and more than 100 members of the State Council.
He said, “Every government candidate must submit the names of the members of the House of Representatives and the State Council who endorsed him, to ensure that no endorsements were forged, and to conduct a final review of the files to ensure that they are accurate.”
The candidates’ interventions varied in style and content, but their common denominator was a focus on elections, ending the political divide, and addressing the country’s economic crises. This demonstrates their desire to lift the country out of its stalemate and build a transitional phase that will pave the way for stability and democracy.