On Tuesday, the United Nations considered that the decision on the candidacy of retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Haftar for the presidential elections is “in the hands of the Electoral Commission.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Haftar submitted his candidacy papers for the elections scheduled for December 24, and he is the second controversial candidate after Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi.
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“The issue of deciding his (Haftar) candidacy is in the hands of the Electoral Commission,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Haq continued, during a press conference: “For our part, we will leave the matter to the commission to evaluate his candidacy. This matter is a privilege for it.”
In a televised speech on Tuesday, Haftar said that his candidacy “is not a request for power or a search for a position, but rather to lead our people in a fateful stage towards glory, progress, and prosperity,” as he put it.
After announcing his candidacy, Haftar officially submitted the nomination papers at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission in the city of Benghazi, in the east of the oil-rich country.
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Haftar leads a militia that launched a failed attack in April 2019 to seize the capital, Tripoli (west).
With the help of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and support from Arab and Western countries, with the aim of overthrowing the internationally recognized Government of National Accord at the time.
And despite the fact that a transitional authority elected on March 16 took over its duties to lead the country to elections.
However, Haftar continues to act independently of the legitimate government and leads a militia that controls many areas.
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Haftar also calls himself “the commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army”, which is not recognized by the current national unity government, whose legitimacy is recognized by the international community.
On Monday, the United Nations also said that the Electoral Commission was empowered to decide on Saif al-Islam’s candidacy.
He is the son of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed by protesters during the revolution that ended his regime (1969-2011).
Saif al-Islam has almost not been seen in public for 10 years and is on death row in Libya for “war crimes”.
He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity”.
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On Sunday, the Office of the Military Prosecutor General demanded, through official correspondence, the Electoral Commission to stop the nomination procedures for both Saif al-Islam and Haftar “until they comply with the investigation,” according to local media.
The Commission opened the door for candidacy on November 8, and it will continue until November 22 for the presidential elections, and until December 7 for the parliamentary elections.
This step came despite the ongoing differences over the electoral laws between the House of Representatives on the one hand.
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In addition to the Supreme Council of State (a consultative parliament), the unity government and the Presidential Council on the other hand.
