The presidential race is a new event in Libya different from the parliamentary elections, says the High Council of State (HCS) Head Khaled Al-Mishri, who noted that the Council predicted from an early stage that the presidential elections would be a failure. "Holding fair and transparent elections is possible, provided that they take place on a sound constitutional basis with minimized risks," Al-Mishri said, adding that the Libyans practiced democracy in the 2012 elections in full transparency. The electoral process was spoiled, for several reasons, according to Al-Mishri, including the participation of controversial figures such as Khalifa Haftar and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. "Saif Gaddafi received a death sentence and failed to appear before the court, and therefore he is considered a fugitive from justice." As for Haftar, the HCS accused him of committing crimes against the Libyans in Benghazi and Derna and attempting to seize Tripoli by force.

Source: Libya Today January 22, 2022 17:53 UTC