Libya starts preparations for presidential, parliamentary elections in 2026

Alsharq Tribune-Otaify 

Libya's High National Elections Commission (HNEC) announced on Monday that it has started preparations for holding presidential and parliamentary elections in mid-April 2026.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the commission said it has begun preparing and publishing the regulatory frameworks for the elections of the head of state and the parliament.

The commission also said it is currently drafting the regulations governing nominations for prospective candidates so that they have enough time to review the conditions and procedures to prepare for their participation.

It has recently urged the UN Support Mission in Libya to accelerate efforts to resolve disputes surrounding amendments to electoral laws proposed by the "6+6 Committee" that is composed of six members of the House of Representatives and six members of the High Council of State charged with developing the legislative framework for the elections.

The House of Representatives is the parliament based in the East, while the High Council of State is the consultative body based in Tripoli, representing the former General National Congress. Both are key players in the political process and participate in institutional negotiations.

Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been split between two rival governments -- the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the eastern-based administration appointed by the House of Representatives and headed by Osama Hammad.