“Al-Bilad” program discussed Wednesday the issue of the December 24 elections, and what will happen in the event that these elections fail.
Constitutional Basis
The political-affairs activist, Mahdi Abdel-Ati, said in his intervention on the “Al-Bilad ” program that the conflict between the High Council of State and the House of Representatives over the past years is the main reason in the Libyan crisis, as these two councils are the primary beneficiary of the existing chaos and the continuation of benefits.
He said he doesn’t believe that the House of Representatives will approve the budget of the new government on May 24 because they do not agree on the sovereign positions so far, this struggle over the sovereign positions will create a new state of chaos that may last for several months, while there are only 220 days left until the December 24 elections.
It is a struggle over the financial positions of the state, for example the position of the governor of the Central Bank of Libya, the National Oil Corporation, the presidency of the High Electoral Commission, and others.
In response to the question of “Al-Bilad ” program: Has the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum abandoned its role? He said: “Security Council Resolution 2570, which explicitly states that the Interim Presidency Council and the Interim Government of National Unity are responsible for leading the country until December 24th only, according to the roadmap that was agreed upon in Tunis last November.
He continued: “The statements of Germany, Britain, France, the United States and Italy stipulated the imposition of sanctions on all those who obstruct.”
He also believes that changing the Head of the High Electoral Commission at this particular time is unreasonable and unacceptable, as we are seven months apart from the elections, in addition to that Emad Al-Sayeh and his team are performing their duties to the fullest.
Answering a question about what is the expected scenario, he said a new war, adding that direct voting to choose the head of state is not in the interest of some parties that have influential powers on the ground, and when an agreement is reached within the Political Dialogue and the adoption of free and direct voting, from that moment on; new leaderships will be prepared for war.
Quota and Regionalism
Al-Mahdi Abd Al-Ati says said that to appoint four agents in each ministry is just a regional quota system and accommodation to some parties in order to approve the budget.
Since the budget is subject to bargaining, what should the government do? He said: “What is required is for the prime minister to come out and inform the Libyan people, the United Nations, and the Political Dialogue, revealing that he has been subjected to blackmail and bargaining, and the budget is still subject to negotiation by the House of Representatives.”
“The US government continues to press for the elections to be held on time, as the US Congress, in the previous period, enacted the Libyan Stability Act and was voted on, and also pressed for the issuance of resolution “2570” from the Security Council that includes imposing sanctions on the spoilers.” He added.
