The recent movement, launched across various Libyan cities demanding presidential elections, derives its significance from being a direct manifestation of the citizens’ will to restore institutions, unify national decision-making, and enshrine the principle of the peaceful transfer of power. The increasing public awareness of the need for electoral reform, alongside growing civic participation, has transformed public pressure into a force that pushes political actors and relevant institutions to create the appropriate climate for elections.
Almanassa surveyed the opinions of several officials regarding the effectiveness of this movement and its potential to drive change and conclude the repeated transitional phases.
In this regard, Nadia Omran, a member of the constitutional drafting assembly, expressed her hope that the peaceful public movement would succeed in steering the country towards elections, particularly since reliance cannot be placed on the UN Mission or the current political bodies in the arena.
Omran stated her wish for the presidential election movement to be organised and peaceful, and to move towards institutional unification based on a constitutional foundation derived from popular will. She affirmed that this path would secure solutions to other challenges and propel Libya towards a state of law and institutions. Omran stressed that the solution must be “Libyan-Libyan,” as experience has shown that the international community and the UN Mission are divided and not serious about resolving the Libyan issue, and current political bodies have become addicted to remaining in power and will not offer any initiative for understanding or resolution unless they feel genuinely threatened.
Similarly, Jaziya Shaiter, a criminal law professor at the University of Benghazi and a member of the Advisory Committee, stressed that the people’s movement is of paramount importance because it reminds politicians and decision-makers that the people are the source of all authority.
In a statement to Almanassa, Shaiter added that the movement’s continuity and inclusiveness across all Libyan cities for several weeks would directly contribute to accelerating the conduct of elections. She emphasised that the movement requires effective security to protect it from armed attacks, noting that this can only be provided by the armed forces. Shaiter also underlined the need for an organisational team drawn from parties, civil society organisations, and those interested in the movement’s goals to ensure its sustained presence.
For her part, Aisha Al-Barghathi, head of the Women’s Committee at the Arab Youth Union, affirmed the necessity for all political and societal bodies to interact positively with the public voice that escalated in Friday’s demonstrations.
Al-Barghathi told Almanassa that the Libyan street is currently witnessing an advanced state of awareness and a growing public movement that reflects citizens’ aspirations for political stability and the completion of the presidential mandate. She explained that this movement is not merely a passing protest but an authentic expression of the people’s desire to build a state of institutions, restore trust between citizens and political authority, and achieve a genuine democratic transition. Al-Barghathi noted that Libyans have proven they possess the strong will to participate in shaping their future, viewing the presidential elections as the gateway to stability and an end to the division. She concluded that respecting the popular movement means not only listening to demands but translating them into practical steps that restore trust and support stability, underscoring that the most vital step today is demonstrating sincere national will that prioritises the nation’s interest above all else.
