Speaking the same language does not necessarily mean understanding one another. For example, "The Americans and the English are two nations separated by the same language" - they are different despite speaking the same language. Even among these two nations who speak the same language, there are significant differences between them...That saying also applies to the Libyan people and their government. It is as though they were "two nations" separated by the same language.
Indeed, the outgoing Libyan Prime Minister, who has been dismissed by the parliament, discussed removing fuel subsidies, especially for gasoline, and he mocked Libyans for getting by on “freebies,” saying they eat for free, don't pay for electricity or water, and work only an hour a day...
With his rhetoric, he highlighted his disdain for his people, giving rise to a wave of fury in the streets, and the country's only elected legislative authority dismissed him from the position he had not been elected to. He did not comply with the decisions and refused to hand over power to the government appointed by the parliament, which has the authority to appoint, grant, and withdraw confidence from the government. But what can you say to foreign actors interfering even in Libya’s democratic process?
The dismissed government, in its effort to cling to power, has shamelessly squandered vast amounts of money on unnecessary expenses. They have purchased armored luxury cars, phones, and office stationery, and dispensed large sums on hospitality at the government's and ministries' diwan. Meanwhile, it considers spending on citizen's food and fuel a waste of money, a shameful and inaccurate economic argument. Instead of reducing its spending and clamping down on the embezzlement documented in reports from the Libyan Audit Bureau and other auditing bodies authorities, the government has set its sights on Libyans' meager salaries and fuel subsidies, which it seeks to eliminate. Its actions affirm that the government lives in a fantasy world that is far removed from the pain and suffering of Libyan citizens, who have yet to wipe off the dust of war and the hardships of displacement.
The government, which continues to hold power in Tripoli, is not embarrassed by the fact that the cost of bread has increased more than tenfold during its tenure. In fact, it has failed to provide textbooks for school students, offer kidney and cancer patients treatment, or even provide vaccinations and serums to children, which Libya used to purchase and offer not only for its own children but also children across Africa before February.
The crisis of gasoline, or the removal of fuel subsidies, which the dismissed Prime Minister contemptuously wants to impose despite opposition from Libyans, will not only make it more expensive for Libyans to fill their tank, and not all Libyans own a car in any case. However, it will increase transportation costs, especially for goods and food, raising prices for Libyans already struggling to make ends meet on their meager salaries. Most Libyans live on less than 300 dollars a month; as for the officials, they can put their hands on coffers with impunity. They are swimming in dollars and euros, not just Libyan dinars. The fuel for their cars, whether subsidized or not, will still be paid for by the Libyan treasury, leaving the average Libyan helpless and inconsolable.
The extension of the government’s term is a key reason for the protracted chaos in Libya and the squandering of public funds. Extending their term, without a referendum ( and thus without consulting the people), is a big mistake. It also sets the country’s nascent democracy back and reflects the government’s contempt for the mandate of the elected assembly. It is as though they were handing power through inheritance, as they have constitutional legitimacy. This has exacerbated the polarization on Libyan streets, with some vehemently opposing the extension, others remaining silent, and a third group supporting it, creating new dividing lines.
This government’s mishandling of citizen affairs, or rather its unrestrained mockery of the people, is the result of the failures of Libyan democracy, which has not been in place for a long time. Its nascency might provide a plausible explanation for why some political elites are behaving with what could be called political immaturity. Their actions, often shortsighted, ultimately undermine the nation’s aspirations and leave Libya vulnerable to interventions by international financial institutions like the World Bank, especially after the depletion of the Libyan treasury due to the misuse and plundering of public funds.
Squander depletes the treasury, and it is particularly problematic in a rentier economy, as it cannot survive without public funds. It will have catastrophic consequences for the entire population, which largely depends on state salaries. Libya does not have a significant industrial or agricultural industry. It only has trade, which has not been managed appropriately, as the authorities have failed to leverage Libya's strategic geographical location. Located between the Mediterranean facing Europe to the north and the Sahara Desert's coast in Africa to the south, it is an ideal area for trade between Africa and Europe, but that potential has not been realized.
The mismanagement of the dismissed government in Tripoli is evident in the gasoline crisis, and the government’s stupidity could be the spark that ignites and devastates Libya. Mistakenly thinking it is a political maneuver, the move reflects the deterioration of living conditions in Libya. This is particularly ironic given the fact Libya sits atop the largest oil reserves in Africa. The government's failure to effectively manage its resources and ensure economic stability and prosperity for its citizens presents a stark contrast to the wealth the country could have potentially enjoyed.
