The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, has asserted that returning to the ballot box to elect a head of state is the sole remedy for Libya’s persistent institutional divisions and the proliferation of rival governing bodies. Saleh emphasised that the electoral process must proceed without getting bogged down in legal and political intricacies intended to exclude specific candidates. He maintained that the voters should be the ultimate arbiters, regardless of the number of contenders, and that a universal turnout of citizens over eighteen is essential to steer the nation away from chaos and economic insolvency.
Saleh argued that a presidential election is the only practical way to unify the country, as an elected president would hold the exclusive authority to appoint a prime minister and dismantle the current dual-government structure. He dismissed claims regarding the forgery of national identification numbers as mere tactics to obstruct the polls, noting that the Prosecutor General possesses the means to rectify any registry discrepancies without halting the process. Furthermore, the Speaker launched a stinging critique of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, accusing him of bias and legal incompetence, suggesting that his rulings are primarily motivated by political malice.
Addressing the executive stalemate, Saleh noted that the refusal of current officials to relinquish power makes the formation of a unified government nearly impossible. As an alternative, he proposed the establishment of a dedicated committee to oversee the elections without exercising broader political or executive powers. He expressed scepticism regarding UN-led dialogues, asserting that they yield no results, and insisted that the public should be free to choose their leader, even if candidates hold dual citizenship. With the High National Elections Commission declaring its readiness for an April vote, Saleh concluded that the demand for a unified government as a prerequisite for the elections is no longer necessary.