The Acting UN Envoy to Libya, Stephanie Koury, called on the relevant authorities on Saturday to provide the necessary funding and support to complete the elections in all municipalities.
Koury's call came in conjunction with the launching of the elections in 352 polling centers in 777 polling stations in 58 municipal councils (the first phase): 186,055 voters registered in the municipal council election records. Voting ended at 6 pm, local time.
Koury said during a press conference: "We hope that this process will continue in 2025, to include 58 municipalities, and that we will eventually head to national elections." She reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to helping Libya achieve stability and prosperity through an electoral process led and owned by Libyans, with a focus on strengthening national capacities.
Koury pointed out that the number of registered representatives has reached more than 4,800 and local observers more than 1,300, considering that the wide media coverage is evidence of everyone's desire for this electoral process to be transparent, fair and credible.
The Chairman of the High National Elections Commission, Emad Al-Sayeh, called on the House of Representatives on Saturday to introduce some amendments to Law 59 of 2012 regarding the local administration system; so that it is qualified for implementation and application on the ground.
Al-Sayeh said that these amendments aim to elect municipal councils that represent the basis of sound local administration, and contribute to achieving the principle of fair distribution of wealth and regional development projects, and enable executive and oversight bodies to exercise their duties in an enforceable manner.
"We cannot talk about fair distribution of wealth and development in the absence of the basis upon which the balance of justice is determined." Al-Sayeh said.
