Libya's State Council selects team to joint committee to draft law on Constitutional basis for elections
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The High State Council in Libya on Monday selected its representatives to the joint committee with Parliament to draft a law on the constitutional basis for elections in the country.
The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General, Stephanie Williams, has proposed the formation of a 12-member joint committee with six representatives each from Parliament and the High Council of State to draft a constitutional basis for general elections as soon as possible.
This was after the political deadlock arising from the postponement of the 24 December elections, which has resulted in two rival governments, heightening tension in the country at the risk of tipping it into a war.
The member of the State Council, Abderrahman Al-Chater, announced in a statement on Monday to the Libyan News Agency (LANA) that the Council has selected 12 members, six of whom are members of the committee in charge of preparing the law for constitutional rule, while the other six are advisers.
Sources within the State Council, a consultative body, said that 56 members were present at the session. The sources added that six additional members were chosen at the initiative Ms. Williams in order to represent women and other components of the Council.
The High Council of State welcomed the initiative of Mrs. Williams for the formation of the joint committee to develop a constitutional basis, while the Parliament seems reluctant to accept this proposal.
Parliament and the High Council of State had, following the postponement of the 24 December elections, reached an arrangement on the adoption of an amendment to the Constitutional Declaration focusing on the revision of the draft Constitution with legal experts as a prelude to the holding of a referendum, as well as general elections in a period not exceeding 14 months.
The package of agreements also included the appointment of a new Prime Minister in the person of former Interior Minister Fathi Bachagha, who was tasked with forming a new government that was sworn in after the parliament passed a vote of confidence in him.
However, the High Council of State, faced with pressure from the street, reneged on its commitments and voted against the constitutional amendment and the formation of a new government. It proposed instead the creation of a joint committee with the Parliament to elaborate a constitutional basis for organising presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible.
The joint committee of Parliament and the High State Council is due to meet on Tuesday, as stated in the UN proposal. However, the participation of Parliament has not yet been confirmed.
-0- PANA BY/IS/BBA/MA 14March2022
