Menfi urges clear constitutional roadmap for elections

The head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, has underlined that any political settlement in the country must be firmly anchored in clear constitutional and legal frameworks capable of delivering credible national elections.

His remarks came during a series of separate meetings held on Sunday in Tripoli with the United Kingdom’s ambassador, Martin Reynolds, Qatar’s ambassador Khalid Al-Dosari, and France’s ambassador Thierry Vallat, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Council’s media office.

Al-Menfi reaffirmed the Council’s support for all efforts aimed at advancing Libya’s political process, including initiatives led by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. However, he stressed that such initiatives must be built on “solid constitutional and legal foundations” to ensure that any elections are credible and shielded from future legal challenges.

The discussions reviewed the latest political, economic and security developments in Libya, alongside international efforts to move the country towards a comprehensive consensus paving the way for long-awaited elections. Talks also addressed the long-standing issue of unifying Libya’s military institutions, as well as the broader trajectory of bilateral relations with the three countries.

Al-Menfi warned that political initiatives lacking a clear legal basis risk undermining the integrity of the electoral process, potentially exposing outcomes to appeals or disputes arising from legislative gaps or political interference.

Participants also emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to establish a unified military institution under civilian authority, operating within constitutional and legal frameworks. In parallel, they highlighted the need to implement a unified national budget to strengthen financial stability and ensure a fair distribution of resources across the country.

Ambassador Reynolds reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for the Presidential Council’s efforts to stabilise Libya, stressing London’s commitment to advancing the political process and supporting a comprehensive and sustainable settlement.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Al-Dosari reiterated Qatar’s readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation and maintain coordination in support of Libya’s stability and wider regional security, reaffirming Doha’s backing for al-Menfi’s efforts.

In his meeting with Ambassador Vallat, al-Menfi outlined the work of specialised committees established by the Presidential Council to monitor and improve Libya’s economic conditions, alongside ongoing efforts to unify the military. Both sides stressed the importance of sustaining momentum in these areas to reinforce security and stability.