The east-based Libyan parliament unilaterally announced on Tuesday it was ending the term of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU), a move that could stoke more tensions in the struggle for power in the North African country.
Meeting in the city of Benghazi, the parliament unanimously voted to end the term of the GNU, headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, declaring its rival, the Government of National Stability, headed by Osama Hammad, as the sole “legitimate” government in the country until a new “unified” cabinet is chosen.
Parliament spokesman Abdullah Bleihaq added that the legislature also unanimously voted to name Speaker Aguilah Saleh as the high commander of the army in line with the constitutional declaration.
The decision means that parliament has removed the role of high commander of the army from the Presidential Council. It also announced that it agreed to a memo presented by 50 lawmakers to reinstate the 2011 constitutional declaration.
During the parliamentary session, Saleh told MPs that the term of the interim phase, which led to the formation of the Presidential Council and GNU, is effectively over. He called for reviewing the Geneva agreement that covers the interim phase.
He explained that a government’s term should last no more than a year, which can be extended for another one-year term. This means that the GNU had lost its legitimacy over five years ago.
He criticized the GNU for failing to perform its duties and holding parliamentary and presidential elections.
The parliament is seeking to form a unified authority that can rule and achieve justice, Saleh stressed, noting that the capital Tripoli has fallen under the control of armed gangs.
“I have never sought to extend my term as speaker of parliament. I did not conspire to postpone the elections and I refuse a return to fighting and the division of Libya,” he declared.
“We have offered several concessions to reach an agreement that appeases all parties, but some sides are eager to keep the situation as it is,” he stated, describing the current stage as “critical”.
Furthermore, he said the GNU’s greatest fault was failing to hold the parliamentary and presidential elections on time even though they had popular and international support.
The Presidential Council did not immediately comment on the parliament’s moves. Sources close to the council said its president, Mohammed al-Menfi, convened an emergency meeting with his deputies to discuss the parliament’s actions.
Menfi’s aide said Saleh had several legal misconceptions in his comments, reported local media.
Khalid al-Mishri, who is vying for the position of High Council of State, described as “void” the parliament’s decisions, saying they violate the political agreement that was signed in Morocco in 2015.
