The Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Al-Sarraj, announced today he retracts from his resignation and will continue to hold office.
According to a statement made by his spokesman, the Prime Minister said that he desires a smooth transition to the executive authority “in order to ensure stability and to avoid any political vacuum.”
Today’s announcement came after demands to Al-Sarraj by EU countries and the Presidential Council of Libya to “avoid falling into a political vacuum crisis.”
The PM had announced last month that he will resign by the end of October.
“Mr. Al-Sarraj extends his thanks and appreciation to the Libyan Parliament’s branch in Tripoli, the High Council of State, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and the leaders of friendly countries,” the statement said.
“I refuse to resign, which I wanted to do before the end of October this year, in response to insistent demands both domestically and abroad to avoid a political vacuum,” Sarraj said, as quoted by Al-Hadath broadcaster.
Earlier, the chairman of the Libyan High State Council, Khalid Al-Mishri, asked Al-Sarraj to postpone his resignation until the election of a new Presidential Council. The German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also asked Al-Sarraj to stay in power.