The Libyan High Electoral Commission will begin accepting applications for candidacy for the presidential and parliamentary elections, and the head of the commission, Imad Al-Sayeh, announced in a press conference, the opening of nominations for the elections starting today, Monday, November 8, 2021.
Al-Sayeh announced that accepting nominations for presidential and parliamentary elections will continue until November 22, 2021, while applications for candidates in the parliamentary elections will continue until December 7, 2021.
Al-Sayeh confirmed that applications for candidacy for the presidential elections will be accepted only by the three branches of the commission in the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabha.
The presidential elections in Libya are the first in 71 years, after the unification of the historic regions of Libya, which includes Tripoli, Fezzan, and Benghazi, in 1951 by King Idris Al-Senussi.
The head of the Libyan Electoral Commission confirmed that the process of electing the president is the first in the country since its independence.
Al-Sayeh affirmed the Commission's commitment to the procedures and conditions specified in the parliamentary and presidential elections, pointing out that there is a difference in the conditions as well as a difference in the time periods.
He added that the commission had received from the Libyan House of Representatives all the technical amendments, which would enable it to implement the elections "without challenging the procedures for their implementation," noting that accepting applications for candidacy for the presidential elections will be through the commission's offices in Tripoli, Benghazi and Sebha only.
The High Electoral Commission in Libya published the conditions for candidacy for the position of head of state, noting that the system for electing the head of state as all of Libya is one district, and the system of competition for the position of head of state is in two rounds.
Conditions for running for the post of President of Libya:
- The Commission stressed the need for the presidential candidate to submit a statement stating that he has finally stopped practicing his job three months before next December 24.
- The Commission stressed the need for the candidate to be Muslim and of Muslim parents, and to prove that he does not hold the nationality of another country when he is nominated, as well as for his parents and wife.
- The candidate should not have a final judgment in a felony or a crime against honor or honesty, and the candidate must submit a declaration to that attached with a certificate of criminal status, explaining that he is not entitled to run for those against whom a decision of disciplinary removal was previously issued.
- The candidate must submit a declaration of his immovable and movable property inside and outside Libya, which is the same for his wife and minor children.
- The age of the candidate shall not be less than 35 years when he candidacy, and he is not entitled to run for the Commission’s employees, members of its electoral committees, or members of polling committees, pointing out the importance of the candidate being in a healthy fit.
- The candidate for the Libyan presidential elections must submit a report approved by the health authorities in the country, and the candidate must have at least a university degree, or its equivalent from an accredited university, and enjoy full civil rights.
- Article 3 of the Parliamentary Elections Law affirmed that the House of Representatives consists of 200 members chosen through free direct elections, with 32 seats allocated to women in 27 electoral districts.
Conditions necessary to run for the Libyan parliamentary elections:
- The candidate must have completed 25 years of age on the day of registration.
- The candidate must have a university degree or its equivalent.
- The candidate shall not have the nationality of another country unless authorized by him.
- The candidate must be recommended by 100 voters from his constituency, and it is stipulated that the recommendation be signed by them.
