France, Germany, Italy, UK, and US release a Joint Statement on election delay

Dec 24, 2021 | International actors

On 24 December, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the US released a Joint Statement recognising HNEC’s postponement of the ballot scheduled on 24 December. The statement clarified their position on the status of the GNU, asserting, ‘In line with the Paris declaration, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the United States recall their understanding that the transfer of power from the current interim executive authority to the new executive authority shall take place following the announcement of the results of such early and prompt parliamentary and presidential elections’. The statement added, ‘To avoid conflicts of interests and to promote a level playing field [and to honour the current legal framework set forth by Law 20], candidates holding roles in public institutions should also continue vacating them until the announcement of the electoral results’. The statement concluded with, ‘We affirm that individuals or entities, inside or outside Libya, who obstruct, undermine, manipulate or falsify the electoral process and the political transition will be held accountable and may be designated by the United Nations sanctions committee in accordance with UNSC resolution 2571’. [Unfortunately, the statement did not specific how sticks especially sanctions will be used and hence will not have the effect of chastening spoilers].