Next Libyan presidential election

The Libyan presidential election had originally been planned for 10 December 2018,^[1] but was delayed due to Khalifa Haftar's Western Libya campaign.^[2][3] The election was thereafter scheduled to be held on 24 December 2021 but was indefinitely postponed after the head of the High National Election Commission (HNEC) ordered the dissolution of the electoral committees nationwide.^[4]

Next Libyan presidential election

TBD

President before election Mohamed al-Menfi Independent Elected President TBD

Background

Main articles: Second Libyan Civil War and Libyan peace process

2017

In a surprise offensive on 3 March 2017, the Islamist-dominated Benghazi Defense Brigades seized a number of oil ports from the Libyan National Army-backed House of Representatives.^[5] On 7 March 2017, the ports were handed over to the Government of National Accord, prompting the House of Representatives to abandon the UN-brokered peace deal it had previously agreed to with that government, denouncing the BDB capture of the ports as "terrorist attacks".^[6] The House then called for Libya's electoral commission to make "all the necessary arrangements to prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections before February 2018".^[7]

2018

In May 2018, talks occurred in Paris, France, where leaders of the Government of National Accord and representatives of Haftar's Libyan National Army agreed on establishing a legal framework by 16 September to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on 10 December.^[8] The four people who agreed to deal were: Fayez al-Sarraj (head of the Government of National Accord), Khalifa Haftar (head of the Libyan National Army), Aguila Saleh Issa (head of the House of Representatives), and Khalid al-Mishri (head of the High Council of State).^[9] This was supported by the final report of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue for the preparatory phase of the Libyan National Conference, which stated that Libyans participating in the consultative process "expressed fatigue and frustration with the current political situation and called for an election or other major change to usher in a new system".^[10]

In July, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Libya to speak with GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on making sure the elections went forward, and announcing that France donated US$1 million for the election.^[11] The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stated in early August 2018 that he doubted that elections would be held at the end of the year, despite France's push,^[12] and Italian ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone echoed this view.^[13] The Italian embassy in Tripoli later denied that Perrone was trying to delay the election after his statements were criticized by the Libyan House of Representatives.^[14] Ghassan Salamé, the United Nations representative in Libya, stated that an election in December 2018 would be unlikely due to the ongoing fighting.^[15]

In November 2018, major Libyan political figures attended the two-day Palermo Conference in an attempt to resolve the Libyan Conflict, but without a breakthrough.^[16]

2019

One of the major aims of the Libyan National Conference, which was initially scheduled for 14–16 April 2019, but postponed by the start of Haftar's military operation to take control of Tripoli from the GNA, was to recommend methods and dates of the 2019 elections to the Libyan House of Representatives and High Council of State.^[17]

According to resolution 8/2013 of the General National Congress (GNC), the body responsible for the practical aspects of organising the elections is the High National Elections Commission (HNEC).^[18][19] HNEC is expected to follow the procedures outlined in resolution 17/2013 of the GNC.^[18] As of 2019^[update], the HNEC Board consisted of Emad Alshadly al-Sayah, Rabab Mohammed Halab, Abdelhakim Alshaab Belkhair and Abubakr Ali Marda.^[20]

The 2019 Libyan local elections took place in 20 localities, prior to the parliamentary and presidential elections, in March and April 2019,^{[21][22][23][24]} with further planned elections in other towns during 2019. The local elections are coordinated by the Central Commission of Municipal Council Elections in close cooperation with HNEC.^[19]

In 2019, Libyan Speaker of the House Aguila Saleh announced that elections could be held in 2020.^[25]

2020

On 16 September 2020, Fayez al-Sarraj stated that he would step down from his position by the end of October 2020. This took place after the first month of the start of the 2020 Libyan protests in Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities across Libya.^[26][27]

2021

On 23 September 2021, Haftar temporarily withdrew his post from the command of the LNA for a potential run in the election. Under Libyan law, officials must suspend their current work three months before participating in the election.^[28]

Postponement

Various postponements have resulted from disputes about fundamental rules governing the election, including the voting timetable, the eligibility of the main candidates and the eventual powers of the next president and parliament.

Days before the first round was scheduled to take place, the election was already up in the air, with no official list of candidates presented to the public and no formal campaigning under way.^[4] On 22 December the parliament of Libya confirmed the postponement. The chairman of the election committee said, ”After consulting the technical, judicial and security reports, we inform you of the impossibility of holding the elections on the date of 24 December 2021, provided for by the electoral law,” without giving a new date.^[29] Foreign Policy summarized that the causes for the delay were that "the process was beleaguered by two interrelated issues: differences over the idea of holding a presidential election in the current context, and the resulting failure to reach the required consensus on a framework for elections".^[30]

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the United States urged Libya to set a new date for delayed presidential election quickly.^[31] The HNEC insisted that the House of Representatives is responsible for setting the new date.^[32] Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh said the election committee responsible for overseeing elections must set a "definitive" date for postponed presidential and legislative polls by the end of January.^[33]

The U.N.'s special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, who has pursued a new election date, told the Associated Press that it was still "very reasonable and possible" for the country's 2.8 million voters to cast their ballots by June 2022 in line with the U.N.-brokered roadmap.^[34]

On 23 January 2022, interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh called for a constitution to be established before holding the delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.^[35] A month later, on 22 February, Dbeibeh announced a plan to hold the elections in June 2022.^[36] He later proposed holding elections at the end of 2022.^[37]

Since then, the voting has not taken place and the plans have unraveled and left the country in crisis, although Dbeibeh is reported by his allies to be working on these issues.^[38] One reason given is the inability to agree on banning military personnel as well as dual citizens from running in the elections.^[39] In February 2023, current United Nations envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, reported that a new initiative to agree on elections is in the works.^[40] Guma el-Gamaty, a Libyan politician and a member of UN-backed Libyan political dialogue process, opined that a solution to the crisis would be either bypassing the House of Representatives and the High Council of State by the Presidential Council as they seem to be reluctant on giving up power, or holding the parliamentary elections first.^[41]

Electoral system

The President of Libya is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a second round will be held.

2.83 million people were registered to vote in the Libyan election as of August 2021.^[42]

Presidential candidates

Registration for presidential candidates opened on 7 November and lasted until 22 November.^[43][44] Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, registered his candidacy on 14 November 2021.^[45] Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, registered his candidacy on 16 November.^[46] Aref Nayed, Chairman of the Ihya Libya Party, submitted his candidacy on 17 November 2021. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh registered his candidacy on 21 November.^[47] Abdel Moneim al-Houni, former Foreign Minister and founding member of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council, registered his candidacy on 22 November.^[48] In total, 96 men and two women registered as candidates.^[49]

A preliminary list of 73 presidential candidates was released by the HNEC on 24 November. Twenty-five candidates were disqualified from the election, including Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Nouri Abusahmain, Bashir Saleh Bashir, and Ali Zeidan. Gaddafi, Abusahmain, and Saleh were disqualified under Article 10/7 of the electoral law for having been convicted of a crime. Gaddafi was also disqualified under Article 17/5 for not providing a certificate showing a clean criminal record. Zeidan was disqualified under Article 10/2 for having more than one nationality and under Article 11 for not having 5000 supporters.^[50] According to the electoral law, any appeals against the disqualifications are to be decided by the judiciary.^[51]

On 28 November, the Tripoli Appeals Court rejected the candidacy of current prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh after accepting two appeals against his bid. The first appeal was filed by presidential candidates Aref Ali Nayed, Othman Abdeljalil, Mohammed Al-Muntasser, and Libyan Political Dialogue Forum members Ahmed Al-Sharkasi and Al-Saida Al-Yakoubi, while the second appeal was filed by presidential candidate Fathi Bashagha.^[52]

On 30 November, Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar was disqualified from the presidential election after the Zawiya Court of First Instance accepted an appeal against his candidacy.^[53]

On 1 December, four candidates disqualified by the HNEC, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Nouri Abusahmain, Salama Al-Ghweil, and Fathi Benshatwan were placed back on the ballot by the Tripoli Court of Appeal.^[54][55]

On 2 December, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was placed back on the ballot after the Sabha Court of Appeal accepted his appeal against his disqualification from the list of presidential candidates.^[56]

On 6 December, Khalifa Haftar returned to the presidential election after the Tripoli Court of Appeal rejected a 30 November ruling by the lower Zawiya court.^[57]

Declared

Portrait	Candidate	Party		Candidacy registration date	Notes
	Nouri Abusahmain (born 1956)		Ya Bilad[54]		Former President of the General National Congress
	Salama Al-Ghweil		Independent		Minister of State for Economic Affairs[58]
	Mohamed Ahmed Al Sharif (born 1937)		Independent	17 November 2021[59]	Former head of the Libyan Islamic Society[60]
	Mayouf Amarif		Independent		Professor at Sabha University[61]
	Ibrahim Dabbashi (born 1950)		Independent		Former permanent representative of Libya to the United Nations[62]
	Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (born 1972)		Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya	14 November 2021[63]	Son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
	Aref Ali Nayed (born 1962)		Ihya Libya	17 November 2021[64]	Former Libyan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
	Hunayda al-Mahdi		Independent		Social sciences researcher[65]
	Fathi Bashagha (born 1962)		Independent	18 November 2021[66]	Former Minister of Interior of the Government of National Accord[67]
	Fathi Benshatwan		Independent	16 November 2021[59]	Former Minister of Energy (2004-2006)[55][59]
	Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh (born 1959)		Libya Future[68]	21 November 2021[69]	Interim Prime Minister of Libya
	Khalifa Haftar (born 1943)		Independent	16 November 2021[70]	Commander of the Libyan National Army[71]
	Leila bin Khalifa (born 1975)		National Movement Party	22 November 2021[72]	Human Rights Activist and Head of National Movement Party
	Ahmed Maiteeq (born 1972)		Independent	18 November 2021[73]	Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, former Deputy Head of the Presidential Council
	Abdullah Ahmed Naker		Summit Party	16 November 2021[59]	Former head of the Tripoli Revolutionaries Council[74]
	Abdelmajeed Saif Al-Nasr (born 1957)		Independent		Former Libyan Ambassador to Morocco[75]
	Aguila Saleh Issa (born 1944)		Independent	17 November 2021[43]	Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives
	Khalid Shakshak		Independent		Head of Audit Bureau[55]
	Abdel Moneim al-Houni		Independent	22 November 2021	Former Foreign Minister (1974–1975), founding member of Libyan Revolutionary Command Council (1969–1975)

Polling

First round

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Dbeibeh	Gaddafi	Haftar	Bashagha	Undecided	Other
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	49.7%	14%	7.3%	1.5%	25.5%	2.1%

Second round

Dbeibeh vs. Gaddafi

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Dbeibeh	Gaddafi	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	63%	23%	8%	6%

Dbeibeh vs. Haftar

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Dbeibeh	Haftar	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	73%	14%	8%	6%

Bashagha vs. Gaddafi

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Bashagha	Gaddafi	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	27%	36%	8%	29%

Bashagha vs. Haftar

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Bashagha	Haftar	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	30%	20%	9%	41%

Dbeibeh vs. Bashagha

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Dbeibeh	Bashagha	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	75%	11%	7%	8%

Gaddafi vs. Haftar

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Gaddafi	Haftar	Undecided	Abstention
Diwan Institute	1–5 December 2021	1106 (RV)	± 3%	38%	17%	8%	37%

See also

• High National Election Commission

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. "Libya's rival leaders agree to hold elections in December". Al Jazeera. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
2. "Libya election to take place in early 2019: UN envoy". Al Jazeera. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
3. "Libya elections by June 2019, UN envoy tells Reuters at Palermo Conference". Libyan Express. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
4. "Libya electoral commission dissolves poll committees". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
5. How Haftar lost the oil ports - as Libya moves closer to uncontrolled break-up Middle East Eye, 7 March 2017
6. Libya’s eastern parliament quits UN peace deal with Tripoli Al-Arabiya, 8 March 2017
7. HoR calls for presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya in early 2018 Libyan Express, 9 March 2017
8. Lewis, Aidan (30 May 2018). Libya's December election goal faces political, legal, security hurdles. Reuters.
9. "Libya rivals agree 'historic' election plan". BBC. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
10. "The Libyan National Conference Process: Final Report" (PDF). Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
11. French foreign minister visits Libya to boost election push. The New Arab. Published 23 July 2018.
12. Vagnoni, Giselda (8 August 2018). Italy's PM Conte sees no rush for Libyan election. Reuters.
13. Zaptia, Sami (9 August 2018). HoR denouncess Italian ambassador Perrone’s election comments – calls for his replacement. Libya Herald.
14. Zaptia, Sami (10 August 2018). Italian embassy in Tripoli denies Perrone requested delay in holding Libyan elections. Libya Herald.
15. "Hard to hold Libya elections in December: UN envoy". Agence France-Presse. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
16. Zaptia, Sami (14 November 2019). "Palermo Libya conference makes no major breakthrough, postpones elections, reaffirms LPA and Action Plan". Libya Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
17. Zaptia, Sami (9 April 2019). "UNSMIL postpones Ghadames National Conference until conditions are right". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
18. "About Us". High National Elections Commission. 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
19. "Project Document – Libya – Local Elections" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 4 February 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
20. "The Board". High National Elections Commission. 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
21. "Libya holds municipal elections in first vote for five years". Middle East Monitor. 31 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
22. "UN envoy hails Libyans' keenness on holding municipal elections despite war". The Libya Observer. 20 April 2019. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
23. Alharathy, Safa (28 April 2019). "Sabha holds municipal council elections". The Libya Observer. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
24. "Central Committee for Municipal Elections confirms the election of six new mayors to municipal councils". The Libya Observer. 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
25. "Libyan elections can be held in 2020: HoR speaker". 218 News. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
26. "Libya's Tripoli-based PM Al-Sarraj to stand down". Arab News. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
27. "Libya's UN-backed PM al-Sarraj says he plans to quit". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
28. "Haftar ideiglenesen átadta líbiai hadsereg parancsnoki tisztségét" [Haftar has temporarily handed over the command of the Libyan army] (in Hungarian). MTI. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
29. "Libya parliament says 'impossible' to hold presidential election". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
30. Hammady, Omar (18 February 2022). "What Went Wrong With Libya's Failed Elections". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
31. "Western powers urge Libya to set new election date 'swiftly'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
32. "Libya electoral board suggests January 24 for polls". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
33. "Libya must set 'definitive' election date, says speaker of parliament". The National. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
34. AfricaNews (17 January 2022). "UN: Libya elections could be held in June". Africanews. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
35. "Libyan PM wants constitution before elections". France 24. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
36. "Libyan PM pushes summer election amid parliament bid to oust him". Reuters. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
37. "Libya's PM Dbeibah proposes holding polls at end of 2022". Daily Sabah. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
38. AA, Daily Sabah with (1 August 2022). "Al-Mishri reelected to lead Libya's High Council of State for 5th term". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
39. AP, Daily Sabah with (26 July 2022). "Elections needed soon in 'highly volatile' Libya: UN". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
40. AA, Daily Sabah with (21 March 2023). "PM Dbeibah discusses Libya's delayed elections with US diplomat". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
41. el-Gamaty, Guma (20 January 2023). "Libya: Elections must be held in 2023. Here's how it can happen". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
42. AfricaNews (17 August 2021). "2.8 million Libyans sign up to vote but polls far from sure". Africanews. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
43. "Libyan presidential elections get fiercer after Speaker files for candidacy". EgyptToday. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
44. "Interim leader Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to run for Libyan presidency". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
45. Zaptia, Sami (14 November 2021). "Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi registers to run in Libya's presidential elections". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
46. Zaptia, Sami (16 November 2021). "Hafter announces he is running in Libya's presidential elections". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
47. Aydogan Kalabalik (21 November 2021). "Libyan premier Dbeibeh applies for presidential bid". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
48. الوسط, بوابة. "عبدالمنعم الهوني يقدم أوراق ترشحه للرئاسة". Alwasat News (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 February 2023.
49. Mina Aldroubi (23 November 2021). "Libya registers 98 candidates for presidential election in December". The National. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
50. Zaptia, Sami (24 November 2021). "Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi disqualified by election commission from standing in presidential elections". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
51. "Libya election commission says Saif Gaddafi ineligible to run". Al Jazeera. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
52. "Two appeals against Dbeibah's Libya presidential bid accepted". The Libya Observer. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
53. "Libyan court disqualifies Haftar from presidential race". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
54. Sami Zaptia (1 December 2021). "Aldabaiba and Abusahmain reinstated by court as presidential candidates". Libya Herald. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
55. "Tripoli Appeals Court reinstates Dbeibah as presidential candidate". The Libya Observer. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
56. "Libya court reinstates Saif al-Islam Gaddafi as presidential candidate". Middle East Eye. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
57. Zaptia, Sami (6 December 2021). "Hafter returned to presidential election by Court of Appeal". Libya Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
58. "Libya: 98 candidates in presidential election". Middle East Monitor. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
59. "Libya's presidential candidates". United World International. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
60. Tomassini, Vanessa (6 December 2021). "Libya, homeland for everyone. Interview with the Presidential candidate Mohamed Ahmed Al Sharif". Speciale Libia. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
61. Tomassini, Vanessa (1 December 2021). "Libya needs someone really neutral. Interview with the presidential candidate Mayouf Amarif". Speciale Libia. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
62. Tomassini, Vanessa (3 January 2022). "Conversation with Ibrahim O. Dabbashi: "elections still being the only solution to the Libyan crisis"". Speciale Libia. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
63. "Son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi to run for president". Al Jazeera. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
64. "Aref Nayed Officially Submits His Candidacy Documents to HNEC for the Presidential Elections". Al Marsad. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
65. "98 candidates register for Libya's presidential poll". Africa News. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
66. "Libya's powerful ex-minister announces bid for president". Associated Press. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
67. "Libya's ex-interior minister registers to run for president". Al Monitor. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
68. "Profile of Libya's new executive authority heads". Anadolu Agency. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
69. Aydogan Kalabalik (21 November 2021). "Libyan premier Dbeibeh applies for presidential bid". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
70. "Libya's Haftar announces he will run for presidential elections". Al Jazeera. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
71. Hincks, Joseph (9 April 2019). "Libya Is on the Brink of Civil War and a U.S. Citizen Is Responsible. Here's What to Know". Time. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
72. Al Amir, Khitam (22 November 2021). "Libya: Leila bin Khalifa becomes first woman to run for presidency". Gulf News. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
73. "Libyan PM prepares to submit candidacy for presidential elections | The Libya Observer". www.libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
74. Tomassini, Vanessa (9 January 2022). "Conversation with Abdullah Naker: "between Dbeibah and Bashagha an imaginary struggle, Libya is greater than all of them"". Speciale Libia. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
75. Tomassini, Vanessa (23 November 2021). "Interview with Libya Presidential candidate Abdul-Majid Saif al-Nasr". Speciale Libia. Retrieved 22 December 2021.

External links

• High National Elections Commission