Morocco calls on Libyan parties to commit to holding elections on scheduled date

Morocco, which is hosting several Libyan officials this week, has called on the various Libyan parties to engage in the organization of presidential and legislative elections, and to make sure the ballots take place, as convened, on the date initially scheduled, urging the Libyans to unite and rally around the interest of their country.

The call was launched by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, during a joint press conference with Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, after the talks they held Thursday in Rabat.

The talks focused on the Libyan elections and in particular the commitment and respect of the set date, December 24, 2021.

“Libya is going through a decisive stage at the moment. The crisis in Libya will not be resolved by conferences or foreign interference, the Libyan crisis will be resolved by the Libyans themselves and through democratic practice,” said Nasser Bourita.

He insisted that these elections will have to take place as initially scheduled. “To prepare and ensure success to this process, all parties and all institutions will have to assume their responsibilities,” he said, underlining that “the Parliament is an essential institution in this process in view of its legislative role and its attributions”.

Morocco’s objective is to establish stability in Libya and to get the country out of its crisis, which will only be possible through the organization of elections within the deadlines agreed between the Libyan parties.

“Keeping the dates (of the elections) that the Libyans as well as the international community have agreed upon is a must to allow the return of stability in Libya and to avoid the worst…Time has come to decide on legitimacy through elections,” Bourita said.

“If we have to wait for exemplary conditions to materialize to hold these elections, we must expect that this moment will not come,” he said, adding that his talks with the HoR Speaker have shown a convergence of views on this subject.

He went on to say that “logic dictates that preparations should begin (…)”. “If Morocco has a call to launch, it invites the Libyans to unite and rally around the interest of their country, to keep the dates of the elections, and to work in a methodical and practical way.”

For his part, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament commended the major role Morocco plays in the settlement of the Libyan crisis, highlighting the determination of the Kingdom, King, government and people, to support the Libyan brothers and help Libya break the deadlock.

Aguila Saleh insisted that the Libyan parties cannot do without Morocco’s contribution and its sustained efforts to find a solution to the crisis, given the Kingdom’s global position and its constant support for Libya. “Concertation and consultations will continue with Morocco.”

He held the Libyan parties who hinder the work of the parliament responsible for the deadlock, assuring that the law on the presidential election is now ready while the texts relating to the legislative elections will be ready to go as of next week”.

During his two-day visit to Rabat, Aguila Saleh will also confer with the Vice-President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Abdullah Allafi under the aegis of Moroccan authorities that are continuing the inter-Libyan dialogue facilitation.

The talks between Aguila Saleh and Allafi, who is visiting Morocco for the second time in less than a month, will focus on the necessary modalities for the management of the current transition phase and to guarantee a peaceful transition of Libya to a stable phase, through providing the necessary guarantees for the holding of transparent elections, so that the polls be held as scheduled and that their results be respected by all Libyan parties.

This meeting will also be an opportunity for the senior Libyan officials to discuss a way out to the current deadlock in relations between the legislative power and the executive authority.