Propaganda from the former regime is promoting Aisha Gaddafi ahead of the vote in Libya

Aisha commented on the result in a statement on behalf of the Gaddafi family. She argued that the election ‘cannot be reduced to numbers’: behind every vote, she said, lay support and responsibility. Above all, the message seeks to overcome the political divisions that have solidified since the fall of the regime. ‘We must move beyond the rhetoric: “I am from the September camp and you are from the February camp”’, she said, contrasting rival allegiances with the idea of a single ‘camp of the homeland’. The reference is to political identities built around the former regime and the 2011 uprising. In his speech, the call for reconciliation therefore goes hand in hand with acknowledging the support received. It does not, however, constitute a government programme.

The Arabic-language report published by Jawhara FM adds two further points. Aisha has asked the organisers not to include her name in future votes, ‘to leave a little hope for those striving to win’. She also responded to objections against female leadership with a question: “In all these difficult years, where has prosperity been?” These statements demonstrate her presence in the public debate, but do not amount to an acceptance of calls for her to take on a political role.

The consultation involved more than thirty prominent figures from Libyan political, military, economic and public life. The Tunisian daily Al Horria highlighted the scale of the reported turnout and the winner’s margin of victory. These figures describe the result within the platform, without allowing it to be automatically extrapolated to the Libyan electorate.

The sources consulted do not provide sufficient information on the methodology used to classify the vote as a representative poll. There is no evidence of a sample of the population, the geographical distribution of participants or procedures to verify that each vote was cast only once. Furthermore, the platform’s own disclaimer distinguishes inclusion in the list from a declaration of candidacy and from the verification of legal requirements for holding public office.

The rise in support had also been highlighted on Arabic-language social media. On 22 September, the Libya Press account on X reported a result that was still provisional: 87,891 votes for Aisha, compared with 61,523 for Mohamed Sawan, 47,727 for Saddam Haftar and 37,034 for Ismail al-Shtiwi, out of over 293,000 votes cast. These figures relate to an interim stage and should not be confused with the final results.

The post presented a favourable view of Aisha, contrasting her symbolic significance with the positions of power associated with other contenders. Among the visible replies were also sceptical comments regarding the return of the Gaddafi family to public life. The discussion documents conflicting reactions, but does not provide a sample against which to gauge the attitudes of Libyan society.

The return of Aisha to the media spotlight follows on from a previous political appearance. In November 2021, she had backed the presidential candidacy of Saif al-Islam with a message picked up by the Arab press and the social media channels of Al Arabiya. Her current demands mark a shift: no longer merely support for her brother, but the possibility that she might personally take on the role of representing that region. The outcome remains to be seen.

The issue also arises within an institutional framework that remains divided. On 4 October, according to the Arabic website Ean Libya, the United Nations mission reported on a meeting in Tunis, chaired by Special Representative Hanna Tetteh, concerning the consequences of the division within the judiciary for the electoral process. The participants indicated that overcoming this rift, whilst respecting judicial independence, was necessary to guarantee the integrity of the elections and the acceptance of the results.

Online voting and appeals from supporters therefore raise two distinct issues. The first is who will lead the political faction linked to the former regime following Saif al-Islam. The second is what conditions will enable that same faction, alongside other Libyan forces, to compete in a recognised electoral process. For Aisha Gaddafi, the decisive step remains the possible decision to transform her symbolic presence into a direct political role: a decision which, according to available sources, has not yet been announced. In short, we are left with rumours and speculation in a Libya that remains in turmoil.