On Wednesday, Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh met with a number of political and local leaders in the east of the country to discuss the latest developments.
Ageela Saleh said on a statement that Heads of political parties, university professors, mayors, and tribal sheikhs attended the meeting. They demanded Saleh activate the 1951 constitution, and emphasise the federal system in drafting any constitution for the country.
Notably, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba claimed that the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) “do not want elections.”
During a meeting with a number of electoral candidates, Dbaiba added that the “election law was the main obstacle to holding the elections on 24 December, because the law was tailored to achieve the desires of a certain group.”
He stressed that he “opposed the election law, not the elections,” pointing out that the suspension of the Constitutional Court also constituted an obstacle to holding the elections.
Dbaiba pledged to hand over power immediately after the election of a new Parliament and new government. He also demanded those who call for his resignation, also call for the resignation of “the expired” legislative bodies as well.
The eastern-based Libyan Parliament announced the unanimous appointment of Fathi Bashagha as the new Prime Minister on 10 February. But Dbaiba warned that the appointment of a new interim government could lead to war and chaos in the country. He has renewed his pledge to only hand power over to an elected government.