Al-Marash: The ‘4+4’ Is Parliament’s Last Chance; Rejecting the US Initiative Would Sideline It Politically
LIBYA – Political analyst Kamel Al-Marash said Egyptian–US attention is currently focused on advancing the US initiative led by Massad Boulos, arguing that it has achieved a major breakthrough by initialling the two most important elements — a step he said should open further tracks within the initiative, foremost among them the legislative laws on which presidential and parliamentary elections would be based.
Speaking in a phone interview on the “Libya Al-Hadath” channel bulletin monitored by Al-Marsad, Al-Marash said the ball is now in the court of the House of Representatives and the State Council. In his reading of the two legislative bodies’ positions, he said what he described as the “High Council of State” is the body rejecting and obstructing any initiative that would bring stability to Libya and end the chaos.
‘The Bet Now Is on the House of Representatives’
Al-Marash added that the current bet rests on the House of Representatives taking an important historic step that would secure its place historically and make it, in his view, the sole legitimate body throughout the course of this initiative until it reaches its end.
He appealed to all “nationalist MPs who stood with Operation Dignity, whose core aim is Libya’s stability and an end to division,” urging them to move quickly to endorse the initiative and the outcomes of the “4+4” committee’s work.
He pointed to what he described as encouraging international and regional conditions, alongside what he called unmatched popular support across Libya’s regions for an exit from chaos, stressing that any delay would reflect negatively on House Speaker Counsellor Aguila Saleh.
Electoral Laws Fall Under the House of Representatives
Al-Marash said discussion now centres on the laws under which elections would be held, arguing that this is a legislative matter for which the House of Representatives is the competent authority, alongside the High National Elections Commission, which oversees the electoral process as one of the sovereign institutions linked to the House, in his words.
He said the House’s role in legislation is natural even if the step comes through an initiative from outside that framework, especially since — in his view — the State Council and the House had “failed miserably” for a long time to amend those laws through many initiatives that “came to nothing and were never implemented.”
‘This Time Is Completely Different’
Al-Marash stressed that this time is entirely different from previous attempts because, he said, it relies on the approach of forces active on the ground and pushes today’s legislative institutions to respond to local, regional and international pressure to pull the country out of chaos.
He described it as the “last card” parliament can play for the nation — not for members to enjoy further privileges and years — and called for an end to that approach and a shift to thinking and acting in the national interest.
He criticised some parties for clinging to their personal privileges and wanting the status quo to continue, calling that conduct “highly disgraceful” while the country remains divided, despite what he said were suitable opportunities and international and regional consensus behind them.
‘Parliament’s Last Chance’
Al-Marash insisted this is “parliament’s last chance to be a positive factor in this initiative,” warning that if it does not state its position within the next 30 days, both institutions will be bypassed.
He singled out the State Council, which he said “has long obstructed initiatives and carries no weight.”
He added that the House of Representatives must prove its legitimacy and its representation of the will of all Libyans. If MPs reject the initiative, he said, they would be signing their own “political death warrant,” because they would be bypassed and efforts would continue to fulfil Libyans’ wish to escape this impasse.
Lt Gen Saddam Haftar’s Moves and International Backing for the Initiative
Al-Marash said all the European countries visited by Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar had “opened their previously closed doors,” which he argued had helped the US initiative evolve into something tangible and real among the forces active in Libya.
He mentioned capitals including Rome and Paris, and Qatar — from which, he said, Libya had previously suffered “much harm,” but which he now assessed as a positive part of resolving the Libyan question.
He said this confirmed international, Arab and regional support for the initiative and the conditions for its success, noting that Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar is working “around the clock” to end the division, unify Libya and restore its sovereignty so Libyans can enjoy their country’s resources, in his words.
Praise for the Reopening of the University of Benghazi
Al-Marash ended his remarks by saluting Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and engineer Belqasim Haftar for what he called the “outstanding achievement” at the University of Benghazi over the past two days.
He said he took pride in being a graduate of the university, which he said he had once mourned in ruins after what he described as “terrorist destruction,” before it returned today so that everyone could witness, in his words, a “historic achievement” at a scientific landmark regarded as the mother of universities in Libya, backed by the Dignity movement and Field Marshal Haftar.
Al-Marash said this national project, in his view, is being embodied every day and is convincing Libyans that there is a project for the whole country — and that no honest, patriotic person should stand against it by any means.
