The Board of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) issued a statement asserting the Commission’s commitment to its sovereign role, derived from the Constitutional Declaration, in managing and organising all stages of the electoral process. This affirmation came in response to demands for it to proceed with organising parliamentary and presidential elections.
The statement clarified that the HNEC’s independence and neutrality form the fundamental basis for securing the confidence of both the public and political forces. The Commission noted that its recent experience in administering the municipal council elections has significantly enhanced its technical readiness to manage the upcoming national polls. According to the timeline outlined, the municipal elections are expected to be concluded by late March 2026, which would enable the HNEC to launch the presidential and parliamentary elections starting mid-April 2026.
However, the HNEC conditioned the commencement of this process on several crucial factors, including securing necessary funding and adequate security, and establishing a clear executive mechanism for managing the elections given the existence of two competing governments.
In this context, the Commission urged the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to intervene and urgently address the root causes of the dispute surrounding the amendments to the electoral laws produced by the (6+6) committee, prior to their official referral to the HNEC. The Commission emphasised that settling these differences quickly is essential to allow it to issue the necessary regulations and commence executive procedures without delay. Furthermore, it called on the UN mission to avoid any paths that might perpetuate the existing political deadlock.
Finally, the statement affirmed that any decision to change the status quo must be purely Libyan, free from external pressures or regional interests. The HNEC called upon the House of Representatives and the High Council of State to shoulder their historical responsibility towards the Libyan people, confirming its readiness to fulfil its national duty by holding elections aimed at restoring legitimacy and ending the current political division.
