Italy casts doubt on timing of Libyan Dec. 24 presidential polls, suggests January

Italy’s interior minister Luciana Lamorgese has expressed doubt on holding Libyan crucial presidential election next month as planned and suggested January instead, Libya Observer reports.
Lamorgese speaking during a reception organized by Il Foglio newspaper, indicated that next month 24 elections in Libya to elect the country’s first central leader since 2011 after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, seems to be a difficult task to achieve.
The process brokered by the UN, is stumbling on several hurdles.
The High Electoral Commission (HNEC) released late this month, names of candidates who ticked out all the qualifying requirements. 73 candidates including interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and east-based warlord Khalifa Haftar, have been approved.
Both have seen their bids challenged by appeals.
The HNEC also disqualified 25 other candidates including Saif al Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former leader.
Several people have raised concerns about the electoral code and several irregularities including fraud voting cards and cards issued for deceased people while in light of the economic difficulties, some are selling their voting tickets for a few thousand dinars.
The HNEC Monday said it may be forced to demand the postponement of the onset of the electoral process for between four or five days, until a safe decision on appeals and judicial results for technical reasons only can be reached, Libya Observer reports.
Russia also after Gaddafi’s son candidacy was ruled out over several pieces of legislation as well as letters addressed to it by the Attorney General, the Head of the Police Criminal Squad and the President of the Passport and Nationality Directorate, suggested the postponement of the process in an efforts to avoid fresh crisis in the oil-rich country.