Mtairid links 4+4 success to constitutional guarantees
LIBYA – Political analyst Mohamed Mtairid has said the steps taken by the UN mission through the 4+4 committee mark an important development in addressing political and electoral issues, noting that the House of Representatives adopted the agreement despite debate over whether it met constitutional procedures.
Outcomes must be consistent with the Constitutional Declaration
In exclusive remarks to Sputnik, Mtairid said any agreement or outcomes should be adopted in line with the Constitutional Declaration so that they are not open to legal challenge, adding that ensuring these outcomes are consistent with the constitutional framework is one of the issues that still needs to be addressed.
Separating presidential and parliamentary elections
He added that one of the main points agreed was separating parliamentary and presidential elections, which had previously been linked, so that a setback in one had held up the other.
He described separating the two votes as an important step, because it allows parliamentary elections to go ahead even if presidential elections cannot be held, and vice versa, rather than the entire electoral process grinding to a halt.
Opening participation to civilians and military personnel
He noted that the important points discussed included opening participation in the elections to all Libyans without exclusion, including civilians and military personnel, explaining that progress had been made towards resolving the problem that surrounded this issue at earlier stages.
Mtairid said he believed the work of the 4+4 committee represented important progress after years of dispute over the electoral laws, pointing out that most of the problems had concerned the presidential election, while the laws governing parliamentary elections had become more accessible to the various stakeholders, including political parties.
The commission and 2.8 million voters in 2021
On the High National Elections Commission, Mtairid said that, regardless of his position on reconstituting its board, he did not believe its current chairman, Emad Al-Sayeh, had fallen short in his duties, noting that the commission registered about 2.8 million voters during the 2021 elections and opened the way for candidates to take part.
He argued that settling the commission issue could help narrow differences between the main parties, particularly in political understandings between the executive and legislative institutions.
Call to use pressure on those obstructing the process
Mtairid concluded that the success of any UN initiative requires dealing seriously with the parties obstructing the political process, saying the United Nations and the Security Council, including the United States, have tools of political pressure that could be used to push the parties to end the division and political conflict in Libya.
