The House of Representatives called on the President of the Presidential Council to withdraw his decision to establish an independent referendum and inquiry body, considering it a dangerous and unjustified step.
In a statement, the Council considered the decision to be in violation of the Constitutional Declaration, confirming its invalidity, and calling on all concerned institutions not to take it into account or act upon what is stated in it.
The parliament said that the presidency exceeded its powers stipulated in the Geneva Agreement and went beyond them to constitutional powers that require national consensus to be addressed.
The Council also considered that this step cannot be taken by one party alone in light of the transitional circumstances that the country is going through, while at the same time reserving its right to bypass the Election Commission by establishing bodies with independent financial assets.
The Council stressed that the Commission is the only one authorized to carry out any tasks related to elections or referendums, and there is no justification for establishing parallel institutions.
Dgheem defends
For his part, the advisor to the President of the Presidential Council for Legislative Affairs and Elections, Ziad Daghim, considered the establishment of a national commission for referendum and inquiry to mean resorting to the people and seeking their opinion, and it is an important step towards good governance.
In a statement to Libya Al-Ahrar, Daghim explained that the commission includes several entities that are considered neutral and executive in electronic consultation, and part of its work is conducting a direct referendum and the other part is concerned with national inquiry.
Daghim pointed out that the Commission has the right to cooperate with local and international observers and bodies, to ensure the implementation of its work, its neutrality and independence, and that its results are correct and acceptable, in addition to seeking assistance from anyone who facilitates its tasks, and it can develop executive regulations.
Daghim stressed that the people should have their say and express their opinion on the points of contention in any issue, and that they have the right to decide their fate, and that it is time for the people to be surveyed on many of the upcoming decisions so that they are legitimate.
Al-Manfi had issued a decision to establish the “National Commission for Referendum and National Inquiry” for the purpose of implementing referendums and national inquiries, from preparation and planning to supervising voting and sorting results, in addition to registering citizens wishing to participate in referendums in accordance with electoral laws and distributing referendum centers according to approved electoral districts.
The decision granted the Commission the authority to accredit local and international observers, as well as local and international media professionals, to ensure comprehensive coverage and transparency in the direct or indirect presentation of the electoral process.
According to the decision, the Commission is an independent body with a legal personality and independent financial status. It will be headquartered in Tripoli, with the possibility of exercising its duties in any other city with the approval of the President of the Presidential Council. Its decisions will be public and no interference in its jurisdiction may be permitted. It will also have branches within Libya.
According to the decision, the President of the Presidential Council is the one who determines the issues that require conducting the referendum process and approving its results, while ensuring the neutrality of the Commission and its commitment to the transparency of the process conducted under its supervision.
The Commission’s Board of Directors, according to the decision, is made up of prominent figures from various fields, including: a legal advisor known for his experience and competence, who holds the position of Chairman of the Commission’s Board of Directors, in addition to representatives of the Bar Association, Libyan universities, telecommunications companies, the General Information Authority, and the Statistics and Census Authority.
Source: House of Representatives “Statement” + Free Libya + Presidential Council “Decision”
2024-08-15 03:01:34