French President Emmanuel Macron held a press conference at the end of the Paris conference on Libya, accompanied by Head of the Presidential Council Mohamed Menfi, Prime Minister of the Unity Government Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Macron stated that the Paris conference concluded with a formula that confirmed support for the political track in Libya and the holding of elections on their scheduled date, pointing out that the international community showed unity on the Libyan file.
The French President called on the authorities in Libya to find an inclusive path for the participation of all parties in the upcoming elections and the expulsion of all foreign forces and mercenaries, calling in this regard for Ankara and Moscow to withdraw mercenaries and their military forces from Libyan territory without delay, indicating that the military presence of these countries threatens stability and security in the country as well as the entire region.
For his part, Dbeibeh urged the legislative bodies – in reference to the House of Representatives – to amend the electoral law in a consensual manner, to achieve what he described as justice, inclusiveness and equal opportunities, as he put it.
Dbeibeh said that holding the presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously is essential. He called for setting timetables that guarantee the simultaneous holding of the elections and respect for their results from local and international parties. He spoke of setting what he described as “clear criteria” to impose sanctions on those who obstruct and reject the political process by holding the elections without exception.
The prime minister refused to answer a question by 218News about his compliance with the laws and handing over power immediately after the end of the electoral process, saying that the handover of power is based on fair and consensual elections among all parties.
The Head of the Presidential Council, Mohammed Menfi, pledged to hand over power to the first elected body in Libya, in addition to supporting the High National Elections Commission, to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 24.
Menfi added that legislative matters are a parliamentary competence, stressing the validity of electoral work and taking the necessary steps so that there are elections with real guarantees.
For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that it is important for Libya to decide its fate and hold the elections on their scheduled date on December 24, expressing her country’s readiness to monitor the upcoming elections and the ceasefire agreement, and stressing the need for prior agreement to accept the selection of Libyans in the elections.
Merkel confirmed Turkey’s reluctance to withdraw its forces from Libya, unlike the Russian side, which expressed its commitment to withdrawing mercenaries from Libya, stressing that intensive consultations were held on the issue of withdrawing mercenaries, and that the issue of removing them is still difficult to implement at the present time.
In addition, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stressed the need for the Libyan parties to agree on a new electoral law as a matter of urgency. Draghi said that the desire of the Libyan people lies in holding elections, but there is a need for an electoral law, which is essential for conducting them, calling for the drafting of an electoral law with the agreement of all parties.
It is noteworthy that the final statement of the Paris Conference on Libya stressed the need to hold elections on time and impose sanctions on those obstructing the political track in Libya, through the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council, in addition to supporting the plan of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to withdraw all foreign forces, mercenaries and fighters from Libyan territory.
