Libya’s Prime Minister-designate, Fathi Bashagha stated that he intends to enter Tripoli this week, “in the most peaceful way possible.” He insisted that his authorities wouldn’t be involved in “any violence or conflict.”
In press statements to the Financial Times, Bashagha confirmed: “We will be arriving in Tripoli in the next few days, and there will be no other parallel government. The reason why we have not entered Tripoli just yet is to avoid what you have pointed out [the risk of conflict].”
He stated his objective was to lead the nation to Parliamentary and Presidential elections, without giving a timeframe. Bashagha stressed that despite Prime Minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba remaining in Tripoli, “this does not mean that it will stop me from starting my job in Tripoli in another location.”
Bashagha noted that the plan for elections has been “clarified” to the UN, and “we’re waiting for a public announcement to clarify their position.”
Speaking to Newsweek, Bashagha made the case for his new government, “The government I have formed came about as a direct result of the previous government’s failure to hold transparent elections. I have committed to holding both Presidential and Parliamentary elections within the timeframe agreed upon between the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HSC).”
As well as noting that he has, “also pledged not to run to ensure the elections’ transparency and neutrality.”
“Planning elections in Libya means launching a number of initiatives including national reconciliation, economic reforms, and biometric systems to secure voter data. These elections will take effort and collaboration, but I am committed to seeing this process through,” he stressed.
“We will not take part in any violent acts. It has been proven that the solutions in Libya come through political agreements and dialogue. I intend to pursue collaboration and transparency, to move our country forward,” he concluded.