The Libyan Parliament- designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha urged the international community to support the “only legitimate government” in the country.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, Bashagha said that there is a “Libyan consensus to resolve the crisis, but there is no international consensus.”
He claimed that the United Nations was behind preventing him from entering the capital, Tripoli. “The United Nations did not recognize my government, despite it being approved by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS),” Bashagha said.
He added that the rival government, headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaibab lacked legitimacy, blaming the international community for its continued support for the “expired” government.
“If the international community wants stability for Libya, it must support the will of the Libyan people, and my legitimate government,” he emphasized.
Bashagha also denounced the international intervention in his country, calling for the removal of for foreign forces – Russians and Turks – from Libya.
Notably, the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily briefed the UNSC on the latest developments in Libya. “I have decided to launch an initiative aimed at enabling the organization and holding of presidential and legislative elections in 2023. In this regard, I plan to establish a High-level Steering Panel for Libya,” he announced.
According to the UN Envoy, the proposed mechanism will bring together all relevant Libyan stakeholders, including representatives of political institutions, major political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organisations, security actors, women, and youth representatives.
Bathily noted that the initiative will “facilitate the adoption of the legal framework and time-bound roadmap to the holding of elections in 2023. The proposed Panel will also provide a platform to advance consensus around related matters, such as election security and the adoption of a Code of Conduct for all candidates,” he added.
The Libyan Parliament and the Bashagha government denounced the new political initiative.
The Parliament protested against the initiative, which aims to hold Parliamentary and Presidential elections this year. It stressed that the call for the formation of a new Dialogue Committee “is one of its competencies with the (HCS).”
The Foreign Ministry of the Bashagha-led government warned of “trying to bypass the official political bodies (the Parliament and HCS). As this step does not help in reaching successful and satisfactory solutions.”
It added that the UN mission will “put itself in a contradictory and non-neutral position.”