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Macron hosts Libyan factions in Paris in push to secure elections Macron hosts Libyan factions in Paris in push to secure elections
(35 minutes later)
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is to take a calculated risk by bringing Libyan factions together in Paris and having them commit to elections this year, in an attempt to end the chaos that has exacerbated the refugee crisis and caused economic misery for Libyans.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is to take a calculated risk by bringing Libyan factions together in Paris and having them commit to elections this year, in an attempt to end the chaos that has exacerbated the refugee crisis and caused economic misery for Libyans.
Macron has invited Fayez al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the UN-recognised government, and Khalifa Haftar, the military leader who dominates in the east of the country, to the French capital on Tuesday in a move that has been denounced by some factions as colonial interference.Macron has invited Fayez al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the UN-recognised government, and Khalifa Haftar, the military leader who dominates in the east of the country, to the French capital on Tuesday in a move that has been denounced by some factions as colonial interference.
The two leaders, along with two other major political Libyan figures, will commit to holding presidential and parliamentary elections this year. But there is a dispute as to whether such elections can come before an agreement on a new constitution – a matter about which there has been a negotiating deadlock for two years. The UN’s efforts to secure a deal ground to a halt a month ago. The two leaders, along with two other key figures in Libyan politics, will commit to holding presidential and parliamentary elections this year. But there is a dispute as to whether such elections can be held before an agreement is reached on a new constitution – a matter about which there has been a negotiating deadlock for two years. The UN’s efforts to secure a deal ground to a halt a month ago.
The 13-point accord expected to be agreed at the Paris summit will also seek a commitment to reform and unify the Libyan central bank, the body that collects the country’s growing oil revenues.The 13-point accord expected to be agreed at the Paris summit will also seek a commitment to reform and unify the Libyan central bank, the body that collects the country’s growing oil revenues.
Representatives of 20 countries, including the leaders of at least five African nations, will witness the signing of a new document committing to elections and to the imposition of sanctions if any signatory stands in the way of their occurrence. Representatives of 20 countries, including the leaders of at least five African nations, will witness the signing of a document committing to elections and to the imposition of sanctions if any signatory stands in the way of their occurrence.
The two leaders of the rival Libyan parliamentary assemblies – the speaker of the house of representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa, and the Tripoli-based head of the high council of state, Khaled al-Mishri – are also attending.The two leaders of the rival Libyan parliamentary assemblies – the speaker of the house of representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa, and the Tripoli-based head of the high council of state, Khaled al-Mishri – are also attending.
Various military factions in the west have either been excluded or decided to boycott the event, claiming France – alarmed by how much damage the Libyan political impasse can wreak in Europe – is biased towards quick elections that will benefit Haftar. Various military factions in the west of Libya have either been excluded or decided to boycott the event, claiming France – alarmed by how much damage the Libyan political impasse can wreak in Europe – is biased towards quick elections that will benefit Haftar.
Crisis Group, a thinktank that closely follows Libya, said the summit was risky and audacious. In a special report it said: “Reaching an accord could generate a brief moment of enthusiasm but risks being followed by recriminations when signatories – facing opposition by some of their allies back home – renege on their pledges. French organisers should avoid imposing too rigid a framework.”Crisis Group, a thinktank that closely follows Libya, said the summit was risky and audacious. In a special report it said: “Reaching an accord could generate a brief moment of enthusiasm but risks being followed by recriminations when signatories – facing opposition by some of their allies back home – renege on their pledges. French organisers should avoid imposing too rigid a framework.”
Macron summoned Haftar and Serraj to a similar summit a year ago, but the French officials say it is now clear Libyans want to hold presidential and parliamentary elections. The accord provides for extra time for voter registration to be completed.Macron summoned Haftar and Serraj to a similar summit a year ago, but the French officials say it is now clear Libyans want to hold presidential and parliamentary elections. The accord provides for extra time for voter registration to be completed.
Broadly, the French, Emiratis and Egyptians are content for the elections to be held before a new constitution is agreed, but other key players such as Italy disagree, questioning how a country can elect a president if the office holder’s powers are not defined.Broadly, the French, Emiratis and Egyptians are content for the elections to be held before a new constitution is agreed, but other key players such as Italy disagree, questioning how a country can elect a president if the office holder’s powers are not defined.
Haftar’s commitment to democracy has been questioned by his critics, and in the run-up to the conference his Egyptian-backed force, the Libyan National Army, was making gains at the gates of Derna, a key coastal town held by Islamists.Haftar’s commitment to democracy has been questioned by his critics, and in the run-up to the conference his Egyptian-backed force, the Libyan National Army, was making gains at the gates of Derna, a key coastal town held by Islamists.
Haftar has presented himself to the west as a strongman that can bring order to the country and end the crisis that has seen more than 400,000 Africans trafficked through Libya to reach Italy by boat. Haftar has presented himself to the west as a strongman who can bring order to the country and end the crisis that has led to more than 400,000 Africans being trafficked through Libya to reach Italy by boat.
The advance of populist parties in Italy has largely been put down to the Italian public’s anger at the failure to control the flow of African refugees and migrants.The advance of populist parties in Italy has largely been put down to the Italian public’s anger at the failure to control the flow of African refugees and migrants.
Although the number of arrivals has slowed dramatically over the past year, more than 11,000 migrants have been registered in Italy in 2018 after being picked up in the Mediterranean. The figure is more than 75% down on the same point in 2017. Although the number of arrivals has slowed dramatically over the past year, more than 11,000 migrants have been registered in Italy so far in 2018 after being picked up in the Mediterranean. The figure is more than 75% down on the same point in 2017.
The scale of the public opposition appears to have caught pro-European Italians by surprise. Reflecting on the recent Italian elections, Emma Bonino, a former Italian minister, told a Paris seminar on Monday: “We knew there was a wave of scepticism, nationalism and racism that could come in but we did not know it would be a tsunami.”The scale of the public opposition appears to have caught pro-European Italians by surprise. Reflecting on the recent Italian elections, Emma Bonino, a former Italian minister, told a Paris seminar on Monday: “We knew there was a wave of scepticism, nationalism and racism that could come in but we did not know it would be a tsunami.”
But there are fears that the pressure to find a solution will result in corners being cut. Speaking before the summit, Human Rights Watch France said: “The international community, but most of all Libyans, need to hear Libyan leaders pledge significant improvements to the rule of law, justice, and accountability – including for their own abusive forces – before organising elections.” But there are fears that the pressure to find a solution will result in corners being cut. Speaking before the summit, Human Rights Watch France said: “The international community, but most of all Libyans, need to hear Libyan leaders pledge significant improvements to the rule of law, justice and accountability – including for their own abusive forces – before organising elections.”
It said Libyan authorities should pledge to ensure candidates can campaign freely without undue risk of attack; set up an independent audit of the voter registry; secure polling areas under their control; and ensure there is sufficient court security to allow adjudication of disputes. It said Libyan authorities should pledge to ensure candidates could campaign freely without undue risk of attack; set up an independent audit of the voter registry; secure polling places in areas under their control; and ensure there is sufficient court security to allow adjudication of disputes.
Human Rights Watch said the current legal framework for holding elections remained opaque.Human Rights Watch said the current legal framework for holding elections remained opaque.
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