Jaouda rejects 4+4 and proposes a constitution referendum first
Libya – High Council of State member and General National Congress member since 2012 Saleh Jaouda warned that continued political deadlock and deteriorating living and security conditions could push Libya towards an “explosion”, rejecting the “4+4” dialogue committee deal and proposing a path based on a referendum on the constitution first, then electing a parliament that would elect the head of state.
Living hardship and a warning if the status quo continues
Jaouda, in an interview with Al Jazeera on developments in the Libyan scene, said discussion of Libya’s situation is growing more important amid deteriorating living conditions, noting that the country exports about 1.5 million barrels of oil a day while citizens face power cuts lasting, he said, between eight hours and three days in some areas.
He added that power cuts also affect water supplies because Man-Made River water reaches users through pumps, which he said had led to factory closures and disruption of people’s lives, alongside security deterioration and the emergence of criminal gangs driven by poverty and other conditions.
Jaouda said states watching Libyan affairs know that continuing this situation will lead to an explosion, warning that Libya is threatened with war if conditions remain as they are.
Rejection of the 4+4 deal and the State Council’s position
Asked about the High Council of State’s refusal to accept and incorporate the Libyan dialogue committee’s “4+4” agreement, Jaouda said the council did not take part in that dialogue, explaining that the two delegations comprised four members from the eastern region, including two from the House of Representatives, and four from the Government of National Unity delegation, including two from the State Council.
He said the State Council had issued a decision freezing the membership of any member who attended meetings without a council mandate, and that members who took part in the “4+4” meetings had their membership frozen and were then dismissed after insisting on attending and signing. Jaouda stressed that his positions in the interview reflect his personal view and do not necessarily represent the High Council of State.
On why he rejects the deal, he said the basic question is “agreement on what?”, arguing that Libyans have paid a heavy price in recent years and rose up in February against Gaddafi family rule, and that it is not logical, in his view, for the outcome after 15 years to be rule by two families, as he claimed.
Tekala–Aguila meeting and the 6+6 committee
On the electoral track, Jaouda said High Council of State President Mohamed Tekala and House of Representatives President Aguila Saleh met in Ankara after the “4+4” meeting and agreed to revive the “6+6” committee to complete some disputed articles.
He added that Aguila Saleh had, according to his information, come under intense pressure to push through “4+4”, noting that the session at which the deal was discussed was attended by no more than 40 members, while the House needs 87 MPs for a valid official sitting, he said. Jaouda criticised the UN mission’s welcome of what took place, arguing it had not paused over the quorum issue.
On the “6+6” committee’s outputs, Jaouda said the House and the State Council had previously accepted the committee’s outcomes, but criticised the electoral law that emerged from them, especially the ban on parties standing, which he said contradicts developing democratic life.
He also criticised a provision on presidential candidacy conditions, saying the law allows a president to run while retaining US citizenship, to be renounced before taking the oath, and argued that renouncing citizenship can take between nine months and a year, which in his view could prolong the country’s paralysis.
War fears and drones
On fears of Libya sliding into a new war, Jaouda said those fears have eased for now, but stressed that Libya remains threatened with war if the status quo continues.
He referred to weapons and drones, saying their use had happened before and failed, but warned they could be used again. Even so, he rejected treating those fears as justification for going to a “4+4” deal, stressing he was not saying war would break out tomorrow.
Refusal to incorporate the deal and criticism of the House and the mission
Jaouda rejected the House of Representatives’ unilateral announcement that it had accepted and incorporated the deal, saying the State Council will not approve it and that it cannot be written into the political agreement while the council rejects it.
He said the council will not approve the project, arguing it would lead to “the ruin of what remains of Libya”, and that Libyans should choose for themselves who governs them.
Asked whether the House’s step could deepen the east–west divide, Jaouda said the House sitting was unofficial and lacked a quorum.
He pointed to pressure on Aguila Saleh to remove him from the speakership, saying some MPs had tried to enter the chamber and hold a sitting on that, and confirmed the House had not convened with a quorum.
Jaouda criticised UN envoy Hannah Tetteh’s welcome of what took place, arguing she is trying to cling to an initiative that could take her to the Security Council. He said her project is a failure and will not see the light of day, accusing her of seeking parties to pressure the State Council into accepting the deal.
By contrast, he played down the chance that the Security Council would go far in imposing a political path on Libya, saying the furthest it could go, in his view, is freezing the work of the legislative authority. He said the State Council rejected the deal because it sees that as in the country’s interest, not to protect posts, arguing that accepting the deal would, in his view, have meant the status quo continuing until election day.
Split over intelligence leadership
The interview also addressed the split over leadership of Libya’s intelligence service. Jaouda said the Presidential Council president had issued a decision appointing Abdulmajid Maliqta in place of Hussein Al-Ayeb.
He considered the decision unlawful, saying it requires the agreement of all three Presidential Council members, and that Abdullah Al-Lafi had announced his rejection of the decision and demanded it be cancelled.
He also said Al-Ayeb had refused to hand over his post and gone to the courts, and that the judiciary, according to his information, had issued two rulings finding the Presidential Council decision unlawful.
Proposal for a constitution referendum within nine months
Jaouda set out what he described as a solution that could take Libya out of its political crisis, saying what he proposes to Libya and to the UN mission is a call for a referendum on the ready constitution, to be held within nine months.
Under the scenario he outlined, the path would begin with a referendum by the Libyan people on the constitution, then election of parliament, after which parliament would elect the head of state.
He said the path could start with a campaign to introduce Libyans to the constitution and explain its articles in cities and villages, then the referendum, and within a month or two afterwards the High National Elections Commission would organise parliamentary elections for both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with parliament then electing the head of state.
He said some ethnic components have reservations about articles in the constitution, but that does not necessarily mean rejecting the referendum, noting articles could be amended later, and that the House or future people’s representatives could within five years reopen articles and amend them.
Final message on “electronic armies”
In his final message to Libyans, Jaouda warned against being swayed by what he called “electronic armies” and pages used to influence public opinion.
