The United States embassy congratulated Sunday the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) and all Libyans on the transparent nomination process for candidates to serve in the new and unified interim government, which will guide Libya toward elections on December 24, 2021.
“We strongly support LPDF delegates as they gather on February 1-5 in Geneva to vote among these candidates.” The US embassy added in a statement.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said military posturing, collusion with foreign forces and mercenaries to undermine the political process, threats to shut down Libya’s energy sector, and attempts to divert Libya’s wealth for partisan agendas are incompatible with the demands of the Libyan people for change.
Following the closing of the one-week period on 28 January for the submission of nominations for the new Libyan executive authority positions, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced Saturday night the list of candidates for the Presidential Council and Prime Minister positions.
24 candidates were registered by the UNSMIL for the positions of the Head and two deputies of the Libyan Presidential Council, including Khalid Al-Mishri, who is now the Head of the High Council of State, Salah Al-Namroush, who is currently the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Defense Minister, and others from eastern and southern regions, including the current Speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh.
Likewise, 21 candidates will compete against one another for the position of Prime Minister, including the current GNA Interior Minister, Fathi Bashagha, current Presidential Council deputy Ahmed Maiteeq, and other nominees who also come from different regions, in addition to two women candidates.
