The chimera of elections in Libya Federica Saini FasanottiPutting dreams of democracy ahead of real-world stability, international efforts for new elections in Libya have so far failed. © Getty Images× In a nutshell Successive efforts to hold new elections in Libya have failedThe country still lacks the strong institutions necessary for democracyLibya’s leadership will likely feign cooperation on any planned ballotThere has been much talk about elections in Libya in recent years. The response this time came from Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the military arm of a House of Representatives elected way back in 2014 – the most recent Libyan elections – and subsequently relocated to Tobruk that same year. Without clear and practical answers from UNSMIL to these crucial questions, elections could deliver nothing but more catastrophe for Libya. Reflecting on the past 12 years, this scenario also appears to be a chimera for Libya.
