Libya’s Supreme National Electoral Commission said in a statement on Monday that the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the presidential election scheduled for later this month had passed. According to the media, more than 90 candidates submitted their nomination papers for the presidential election. Candidates include two women. The process of collecting nomination papers started on November 8. It ended at four o’clock on Sunday evening after two weeks.
The Election Commission will announce the final number of candidates on Tuesday. Prominent figures who submitted nomination papers include Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan army chief Khalifa Haftar, interim government chief Abdul Hamid al-Dubeiba and parliamentary speaker Aqila Saleh.
Only two women, Laila bin Khalifa and Hanida Al-Mahdi, submitted their nomination papers for the presidential election. On the other hand, there are still constituencies that are refusing to hold the presidential election on time. Especially when many people have rejected the election laws which in their opinion have not been passed legally.
The High State Council is the second house of the country’s parliament. The council has accused the speaker of parliament of issuing election laws without consulting the council. Political compromise requires the participation of both houses in making these laws. Out of Libya’s population of 7 million, about 28.3 million citizens are registered to vote.
