Libya’s long-awaited presidential election is set to be postponed as flaws in the electoral process have made it almost impossible to hold a vote on the originally-planned date of 24 December. With just seven days left, the electoral commission has been unable to publish a final list of eligible candidates due to “judicial and legal procedures.”
Presidential and parliamentary elections are seen as key to Libya exiting a decade of political chaos. But the process has been marred by disputes over the vote’s constitutional basis, the timing of the votes, the powers of the president and the eligibility of candidates. Many controversial figures such as Saif-al Islam Gaddafi, the son of ousted ruler Muammar Gaddafi, and warlord Khalifa Haftar, hope to run (MEES, 29 October). (CONTINUED - 183 WORDS)