Libya parliament erupts in chaos prior to election law debate

Parliamentary and presidential elections were scheduled in December 2021 but were postponed due to political deadlock

A parliamentary session in Libya. It is hoped Monday's meeting will ease the country's political impasse. AFP

Libya's parliament on Monday erupted in chaos before a debate on a draft election law when several parliamentarians interrupted the head of House of Representatives Aguila Saleh at the beginning of its session.

A broadcast on Libya Almustaqbal TV was cut short after several MPs began heckling Mr Saleh while he was reading an opening statement by MPs who boycotted the session and had called for the cancellation of its previous assembly on June 26.

The session was then adjourned until Tuesday, according to a parliament representative.

The Libyan Parliament was set to hold a plenary session debate at its headquarters in Benghazi to discuss the election draft law approved by the 6+6 committee.

The aim of Monday's talks is to stage parliamentary and presidential elections after a hiatus of nearly two years.

Members of the Joint 6+6 Committee, formed by Libya's House of Representatives and High Council, last month announced they had reached an agreement on presidential and legislative electoral laws, pending the signing of the deal.

Elections were expected to take place in December 2021 but disagreements over who should stand in the polls and other issues meant they were never held. The UN has been working to ease the situation, in the hope elections could take place this year.

Under the 6+6 proposal, elections will be held under a new government. Neither the prime minister of that government nor any of its members would be eligible to run.

Libyan military commander had voiced support for an interim government made up of technocrats to organise the long-delayed elections, in place of the rival administrations currently vying for control.

The latest political developments are a blow to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, who insists his government should organise the elections.

Since the failure to hold a vote in December 2021, Libya’s leaders have been in political deadlock with competing proposals for the constitutional basis of its polls.

Engulfed by more than a decade of civil conflict, Libya is divided between Mr Dbeibah's government in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the east of the country headed by Fathi Bashagha, a former interior minister.

The rivals' goal was to challenge Mr Dbeibeh, appointed interim Prime Minister in early 2021, and prevent his western-backed Government of National Unity from ruling.

Observers do not expect parliamentary approval on the draft electoral law on Monday. Members are set to ask the 6+6 committee to amend certain articles pertaining to the presidential election.

One of the main disagreements involves eligibility criteria for candidacy.

The two sides had agreed that candidates with military affiliations must automatically resign from their posts. Another stipulation is that candidates with dual nationality renounce their second citizenship before running.