The Libyan High National Elections Commission said on Sunday that candidates for the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 24th will be able to register on Monday.

Wrangling over the election's legal foundation, date, and candidate credentials has threatened to destroy a peace process that had been seen as Libya's greatest hope in years of resolving chronic instability and violence.

Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern-based forces in the civil war; Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the former dictator's son; parliament speaker Aguila Saleh; and former interior minister Fathi Bashagha are all possible candidates.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission also resulted in the formation of an interim unity government and the appointment of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah as Prime Minister.

He and other members of the government promised they would not run in any December elections, but analysts fear he may reconsider.

The parliament's proposed election law was rejected by critics, including other political entities, in September because it violated some of the UN roadmap's conditions.
The law set a date for the first round of presidential elections in December, but not for legislative elections until January.

 

Emad al-Sayeh, the chairman of the election commission, who had stated that parliamentary elections would be held within 30 days following the presidential election, claimed the law had been amended by the parliament.

Candidates for the presidential election will be able to register until November 22nd, and candidates for the legislative election would be able to register until December 7th, he stated.