Fathi Bashagha and Khaled al-Bibas shortlisted for Libya's prime ministerial post
The Libyan Parliament, for these new elections, has received a total of seven nominations, of which only two meet the conditions to be considered valid. These are those submitted by Fathi Bashagha and Khaled Amer al-Bibas, as stated by Aqila Saleh, Speaker of the Libyan Parliament.
Bashagha served as interior minister between 2018 and 2020 under the Government of National Accord headed by Fayez al-Sarraj. Al-Bibas, meanwhile, was chairman of the board of directors of a Tripoli-based technology company specialising in the information and communications sector.
Among the seven people who have presented their candidacy, Muhammad al-Muntasir and Ahmed Maiteeq are worth mentioning. The latter was vice-president of the Presidential Council but has decided to withdraw from the election campaign. The candidate most likely to win the elections is Bashagha, as he has the support of the east and south of the country.
His priority is to achieve "political reconciliation based on real participation, building our state on disciplined foundations and unifying institutions, especially security and military institutions, without which no one can succeed". He also argues that achieving security stability is closely linked to the development of specific areas of Libya.
In terms of Al-Bibas' preferences, these include the equal representation of all regions or the creation of a constitutional rule, among others. A balanced foreign policy with a focus on the return of displaced persons and the improvement of education and health care are also among his wishes.
Libya's House of Representatives has announced that it will work efficiently to elect a new head of government. The vote will take place next Thursday during a parliamentary session. For his part, Aqila Saleh announced the end of Dabaiba's mandate in December last year, when elections should have been held.
Differences over candidacies between the political and judicial branches of government were the main reason why the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) decided to postpone the elections. Saif al-Islam, son of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was considered unacceptable by much of the country. "After consulting the technical, judicial and security reports, we report the impossibility of holding the elections on the date of 24 December 2021," he said.
The road to stability in Libya does not look straightforward, as the Supreme State Council opposes electing the country's new leader, and Dabaiba is reluctant to step down, refusing to hand over power prematurely. Clashes are more than likely to escalate between Dabaiba's supporters and parliament in the face of accusations made against each other.
The prime minister has accused parliament of wanting to divide the country again, but also faces accusations of corruption and failure of his reforms. Libya is in serious danger of escalating local disputes and clashes between armed groups as a result of this electoral collapse. Many war leaders in the west have professed their support for Dabaiba.
Libyans' desire for change was reflected in the large number of people who registered to vote in the first elections. The UN has always supported the peace process and believes that the change of government will be key to ending the decade of violence that began in Libya in 2011 with the overthrow of Gaddafi.
Daily life is becoming increasingly difficult for citizens, many of whom find it difficult to access basic services and basic necessities. Ongoing fighting has affected the country's healthcare system. High rents and lack of accommodation have forced many people to move and leave their homes.
Stephanie Williams, UN Special Adviser on Libya, reiterated the need for free and fair elections. She also has a focus on "mediation and engagement with stakeholders to achieve the implementation of the three tracks of dialogue (political, security and economic) and to support the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in the country".