23 people submit applications to run in Libya presidential polls

TRIPOLI, Libya

Twenty-three people have submitted applications to run in Libya’s presidential election, according to the elections commission.

In a statement, the commission said its office in the capital Tripoli received seven applications while one application was submitted in the eastern city of Benghazi.

This brings "the total number of presidential hopefuls (so far) to 23," the statement read.

Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on Dec. 24 under a UN-sponsored agreement reached by Libyan political rivals during meetings in Tunisia on Nov. 15, 2020.

Applications for running in the presidential polls will be accepted until Nov. 22 and Dec. 7 for parliamentary polls.

The electoral commission pointed out that submitting applications for candidacy “is a preliminary acceptance” after which they will be referred to the Attorney General, the Criminal Investigation Agency, and the General Administration of Passports and Nationality to ensure they are in line with the requirements of the electoral laws.

A candidate for the presidency, according to the commission, is required to have never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, and not to hold the citizenship of another country.

Libyans hope that the upcoming elections will contribute to ending an armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.

* Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar