By Abdullah Alkabir, political writer and commentator
Municipal elections nullify invalid arguments
Perhaps the most important part of the fact of success of municipal elections is the invalidity of the political sides’ argument of the necessity of forming a single government in order for the general elections to be held. The municipal elections were held in 58 municipalities in various regions, in light of the political, security and military division, and in the presence of two governments, and no violations or attacks were recorded in the process, awaiting the announcement of the final results by HNEC, after the completion of the counting, review and consideration of the appeals.
So, why were the legislative elections suspended, when they do not differ in all their practical steps from municipal elections? The argument they put forward after Haftar's defeat in Tripoli and the defeat of his gangs is the same one they put forward every time they are pressured to hold elections. After Haftar's defeat, it was natural for the conflict over power to be resolved through elections, but the de facto authorities insisted on the need to go to a preliminary stage before elections.
The Tunis-Geneva dialogues were held and a new executive authority was elected, and the attendees set a date for the elections on the anniversary of independence on December 24. However, the de facto authorities' premeditated intention to thwart the elections, put obstacles in their way, and perpetuate the current situation is what tipped the scales in their favor in the end, and the elections were not held, and the opponents’ exchanged accusations of thwarting them.
With the continued demand for holding elections in internal and external discourses, and the success of the municipal elections, it is no longer acceptable to claim that the elections require a single government, and that there must be a political dialogue sponsored by the United Nations mission (UNSMIL) to form a new government to supervise the elections.
It is true that the general elections, i.e. the parliamentary and presidential elections, or just the parliamentary ones, are more important than the municipal elections, and the interaction with them and participation in them is much greater than the municipal elections, and therefore they will need greater preparations, and it is expected that they may not proceed quietly and peacefully, especially if the presidential elections include the main axis of conflict between several entities and figures, one of which did not hesitate to wage wars, and attack innocent people in their homes and interests, in committing the most heinous crimes in order to reach the seat of power.
But despite all the negative aspects, there is no alternative to conducting elections, because they are the only available way to achieve change, and because the principle is their success as the previous elections succeeded, provided that all the conditions for this success are available, while the exception is their failure, and this is only expected if a political-military party deliberately sabotages them if it finds that they are not going in its interest, and thus does not recognize their results.
The technical aspects of the electoral process are ready, the experience accumulated by the High National Elections Commission is vast, the financial and logistical support is available, and we have more than one proof of the ability of the security directorates to secure polling stations, sorting and counting. Nothing is hindering the move towards change through elections except the de facto authorities. Nothing is pushing them to voluntarily give up power and privileges, and even with the collapse of their arguments and the invalidity of their claims of force majeure and institutional division, etc., this will not force them to settle the matter and return to the people to choose their representatives. Perhaps some of them are now working on formulating new arguments, seeking more disruption, and there is no reliance on a divided international community that has more important and more dangerous files than the Libyan file. Only the movement of the Libyan people with all their categories and components, in a peaceful and persistent manner that does not leave the squares, and in all cities and villages, is what will force everyone to submit to the popular will and implement all demands.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Libya Observer
