17 December 2020 - Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Libya (ASRSG) Stephanie Williams convened today a virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) which resulted in the establishment of the LPDF Legal Committee, as well as discussion on the necessary arrangements for holding national elections on 24 December 2021, and the selection mechanism for the executive authority.

ASRSG Williams briefed the participants on the progress made during the Libyan Economic meeting that took place in Geneva on 14-15 December.  She noted that this economic committee will now convene on a regular basis to support the necessary reforms aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Libyan people, including following up on the progress achieved during the long-awaited Central Bank of Libya Board of Directors meeting held 16 December to unify the country’s exchange rate.  She also informed the participants of her briefing to the Security Council on 15 December in a closed session and echoed the call of the Security Council for LPDF participants to redouble their efforts as “a successful political process was essential for the stability and future prosperity of Libya.”

The ASRSG condemned what she described as “dangerous social media campaigns” that have been weaponized to actively target the LPDF process through propagating misleading and erroneous information. Addressing participants, ASRSG Williams warned: “This is your process and you have the main responsibility to protect it. I urge you not to engage in or encourage such destructive attempts that aim to disrupt your efforts and deny the Libyan people a unique opportunity for peace and prosperity.”

During the meeting, ASRSG Williams announced the establishment of the Legal Committee, which will be tasked to work on the necessary arrangements for the upcoming national elections and declared that members of this committee will be formally announced in the coming days.

In her closing remarks, the ASRSG praised the spirit of unity that characterized today’s meeting and thanked the participants for the thorough discussion. conducted in a conciliatory and amicable setting. 

The participants laid out their views and proposals on the most suitable and consensual method to move forward and finalize the decision on selection mechanism for the executive authority tasked to lead the preparatory period ahead of the scheduled national elections.