The Libyan Parliament has stated that it refuses to join the talks called for by the UN, describing the meetings as “obstructing the political solution in the country.”
Fathi Al-Marimi, the Media Advisor for the Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh, said that the Parliament “refuses to engage in the UN’s talks, without the designated government.”
He considered that a “hindrance to the political solution agreed upon by Saleh, and the UN En BNvoy; Abdoulaye Bathily.
Al-Marimi stressed that the Parliament also rejected the attendance of the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba at the talks.
He pointed out that electoral laws mandate the election of a new President for the country.
Regarding the selection of the new Prime Minister, he explained that the candidate must garner support from 20 MP’s and 10 members of the High Council of State (HCS), before a vote in the Parliament is undertaken.
Earlier this week, a high-ranking source from the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA), said that the army “will not participate in the talks called by Bathily, unless the Parliament-designated government is invited to the table.”
The source told Libya’s Al-Masar TV that “any dialogue that does not represent active parties, especially the LNA, is a failed meeting that will not succeed.”
The source pointed out that “during the UN Envoy’s recent visit to Benghazi, he was informed of the leadership’s stance. In response, Bathily indicated acceptance of adding representatives from the eastern-based government. However, since Bathily did not adhere to his promise, the invitation will not be accepted.”
The source affirmed that “any political dialogue involving active parties that excludes representatives from the Libyan government is an unbalanced and unacceptable dialogue.”
Last week, Bathily invited political parties in Libya to an extensive meeting, to discuss obstacles hindering elections in the country.
He invited designated representatives from the Presidential Council, Libyan Parliament, HCS, the GNU, and the LNA
However, an invitation was not extended to the Parliament-designated government. The move was rejected by the Parliament, which announced its refusal to participate in the meeting.
In response, the Libyan Parliament also announced its refusal to participate in the meeting.
In a statement, the Parliament expressed reservations about the UN Envoy’s call, citing concerns about the disregard for the Parliament’s decisions regarding constitutional amendments, and the vote of confidence given to the Libyan government.
The statement emphasised the Parliament’s rejection of engaging in any dialogue or political agreement that does not respect Libyan will, and elected legitimate institutions.
It underscored the Parliament’s commitment to electoral transparency, urging adherence to the Libyan people’s will through transparent voting processes, free from external interventions.