Candidates running in Libya’s 7 July constituent assembly elections are officially permitted to launch their campaigns from today.

The High National Election Commission (HNEC), which is responsible for organising the historic poll, has limited campaigning to an 18-day period and set ceilings on the amount of money that candidates are able to spend on their campaigns.

Some 2,501 independent candidates have been approved to run for office in the constituent assembly, with a further 1,206 candidates representing political parties. The new body will have 200 seats, of which 80 are allocated for parties and 120 for independents.

The elections were originally scheduled for 19 June but were delayed due to logistical and technical issues. Some 2.7 million Libyans, roughly 80% of the potential electorate, have registered to take part in the vote.