In an ongoing effort to resolve the political crisis in Libya, more than 120 members of the House of Representatives and the consultative High Council of State gathered in Cairo on Thursday, July 18th. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of establishing a new unified government to steer the country towards general elections.
At the end of their session, the Libyan parliamentarians issued a seven-point communiqué. The primary call was for the formation of a new unified government, comprised of experts and led by a unifying figure capable of guiding the country towards the long-awaited elections.
The communiqué addressed the persistent issues that have stalled progress since 2022, including:
– Appointing a new government
– Unifying national institutions
– Eradicating corruption
– Enforcing specific election laws
The communiqué also emphasized the need to consolidate efforts to end the nation’s divisions and reiterated the proposal for a national reconciliation conference, which would pave the way for elections. It stressed the importance of continuing direct dialogue between Libyan parties, which has been stagnant for several months.
This gathering marks the second large-scale meeting between representatives from both chambers of Libya’s Parliament, the first having taken place in Tunis in February 2024. However, Libyan leaders have been criticized for their apparent reluctance to reach consensus or relinquish power. As former UN Special Envoy Abdulaye Bathily noted in 2023, “The political class is experiencing a major crisis of legitimacy.”
Aguila Saleh, the head of the Parliament, responded swiftly, describing the meeting as “a positive step in the right direction.” He announced that efforts to designate the new government would commence immediately.
The initiative signifies a hopeful move towards political stability and the potential for holding elections, reflecting a unified approach to overcoming the longstanding divisions and challenges facing Libya.