On Monday, the Head of Libya’s High Council of State (HCS), Khaled Al-Mishri reiterated his rejection of Prime Minister-Designate, Fathi Bashaga’s proposed government.
Al-Mishri claimed that, “the new government proposal is tantamount to an attempt to welcome aggressors to the Libyan capital, after they had failed to enter it by force. I wish my friend Bashagha, who played a prominent role in defending the capital, would pay close attention to this matter.”
He also called for approving a constitutional basis and consensual electoral laws first, and then setting a specific period for holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The move comes as the nation is already struggling after the Libyan Parliament unanimously appointed Bashagha as the new Prime Minister. He is set to replace the current PM, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who failed to hold elections in December.
Bashagha has pledged to hold Libya’s elections within 14 months. Bashagha was the Minister of Interior at the former Government of National Accord (GNA). He was a member of the Misrata Military Council, and fought against Muammar Gaddafi during the 2011 uprising.
Dbaiba warned that the appointment of a new interim government could lead to war and chaos in the country. He renewed his pledge to only hand power over to an elected government. He also announced a plan that is likely to be unrealistic, which is to hold elections in June.
He described any plan to form a transitional government as “reckless” and “a farce” that could lead to more internal fighting.
Libya has been mired in a political crisis since the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.Observers fear that Libya will return to having two opposing governments, threatening the nation’s vital oil sector.