The return of Saif al-Islam, the son of the late Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, to the political arena threatens to shuffle the cards in Libya. It is rumored that he intends to address the Libyans, amid expectations that he may clarify his position regarding the elections scheduled for December 24. However, it is not entirely clear whether Saif is genuinely considering running for the presidency, or if he simply plans to support candidates associated with him in the parliamentary elections.
Additionally, Libyan sources have speculated that Abdullah al-Lafi, the Deputy Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, who began a visit to Cairo yesterday, will meet with Qaddafi supporters. If the meeting occurs, it would be a new indication of rapprochement between some factions of the new government in Libya and supporters of the former regime.
Saif al-Islam's return, whether it ends in success or failure at the ballot box, will be a political achievement for a man who has lived since the fall of the "Jamahiriya" a decade ago either in hiding, imprisoned, or completely disconnected from the outside world.
Although alleged opinion polls promoted by supporters of the former regime place Saif among the leading contenders for the elections, questions arise regarding the legality of such a candidacy, especially since he is wanted by the International Criminal Court and sentenced to death in absentia by the Court of Appeal in Tripoli.
In the meantime, a statement from representatives of the Libyan House of Representatives and the "State" following their meeting in Rabat the night before last called on the international community to support the electoral process in Libya. The statement did not indicate any positive rapprochement in views between the two parties regarding their agreement on the presidential election law.
