Speaking at a Youth Forum held in his city of Misrata last Saturday (23 November), where 600 young men and women from across the country participated, Tripoli based Libyan prime minister said the youth are the future of Libya and that political decisions were it in their hands.
He said democracy was the only way forward for Libya saying even the multiethnic and hugely populated India and several very poor African states were able to practice democracy.
No fundamental differences exist between the Libyan people – only their elites
Aldabaiba said that in his opinion there are no fundamental differences between Libyans. Pointing to an Amazigh in the audience waving his Amazigh flag, he said Amazighs, for example, are able today to express their own personality freely and openly all over Libya (in contrast to their suppression under the Qaddafi regime).
He said it is Libya’s political elites who have differences not its people. As a result, he felt there is no need for reconciliation across Libya (a need that is often cited by foreigners and international NGOs).
Libya has four fundamental political problems
Aldabaiba said it is his view that Libya has four fundamental political problems.
Military rule
Firstly, he said that there are those in Libya who want to use force or the gun to rule Libya. He said Libyans will never agree to go back to that (military rule) after having experienced it for over 40 years. ‘‘We will never go back to those dark unjust days’’, he said.
Religious rule
Secondly, there are those in Libya who want to use religion or a religious ideology to rule Libya. He said Libyans will not accept this as most Libyans while naturally conservative, they are naturally moderate Muslims.
Back to the Kingdom or the Qaddafi era
Thirdly, Aldabaiba said that there are those in Libya who want to go back to a kingdom or to the Qaddafi era (without ever mentioning Qaddafi by name).
Tribal rule
And finally, Aldabaiba said there are those who want Libya to be ruled by a particular tribe. However, he said the tribe has limits. It cannot create or build a state.
Aldabaiba concluded that it’s the constitution and not the previous four that will rule Libya.
Youth must decide political future
He said his generation’s time has passed and it is you, the youth, who will decide and rule. It is not those who are in their 70’s or 80’s (meaning Hafter and HoR Speaker Ageela Saleh) and are clinging to power who must decide how Libya is ruled. Libya’s youth must decide on its constitution, he added – they must decide how Libya will be ruled. ‘‘It is you who will change the reality’’.
Where is the draft constitution?
Aldabaiba asked what had happened to the draft constitution that the eastern-based parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR), had passed. Why is it hidden in a draw, he asked. It should be brought out to light he insisted, and you, Libya’s youth, should decide if they like it or not. The youth should vote on it (a referendum as prescribed by law) and decide if you like it or not. ‘‘We are counting on you’’, Aldabaiba told his audience.
Teaching democracy
Aldabaiba said the youth need to be taught about democracy, implying that democracy is both a culture and habit as well as a political choice. To this end he cited the fact that his government had created the first Ministry of Youth and a Youth Parliament.
Why had the planned December 2021 election collapse?
Aldabaiba also took some questions from the audience. One question was ‘‘why had the planned December 2021 election collapse?’’.
The Dec 2021 election laws were tailored for Hafter and Saleh
Aldabaiba said the choice of the election date was a mistake, implying that Libya was not ready for the election. He said elections need an election law. He said the 2021 election laws were stopped that is why the election did not go ahead.
He hailed the High State Council for standing up to the HoR 2021 election laws. He said the HoR had tailored the election laws to specific people – meaning Hafter and HoR Speaker Ageela Saleh – but without mentioning them by name.
Aldabaiba said you cannot have election laws that favour or push forward a military man. The drafting of the December 2021 election laws was a joke he said. Let us go ahead and hold parliamentary elections he urged. There is no need to insist on linking both the elections, he said.
Aldabaiba said his wish would be to go down in history as the person who gave Libya a constitution and elections.
Finally, Aldabaiba told the gathered youth in front of him that freedom has a price so you can hold such a meeting today. We need to organise freedom now, he urged.
