Libya's prime minister promises new electoral law

Dbeibé, in an interview with Libya's Al-Ahrar TV, has shown his intention to present a new draft law to Libya's House of Representatives. Once approved, it will be transferred to the Presidential Council for ratification.

The electoral law aims to resolve the serious political and economic crisis that the African country has been suffering since 2011. In 2011, thousands of citizens took to the streets to demonstrate against Gaddafi's dictatorial regime. This uprising was backed by NATO and ended with the outbreak of a bitter civil war.

The prime minister made the remarks a day after surviving an assassination attempt. The incident took place last Thursday when Dbeibé was on his way home in central Tripoli. Some Arab media reported images showing the damage to the vehicle in which the Libyan leader was travelling. 

Political divisions have deepened after the House of Representatives appointed Fathi Bashagha as the new interim prime minister. This decision has not been welcomed by Dbeibé, who argues that "the selection of a new government by parliament is another attempt to enter Tripoli by force".

At the same time, he argues that he will only hand over his powers to a candidate democratically elected by the citizens. The Libyan parliament, apart from Bashagha, also shortlisted Khaled al-Bibas as a contender for the post of prime minister. Both have long professional careers. Bashagha was interior minister between 2018 and 2020, and al-Bibas was chairman of a major Libyan technology company.

Bashagha's appointment has been surrounded by controversy. Al-Bibas has accused Aqila Saleh, the parliament's leader, of lying and manipulating the contestants, as his candidacy was allegedly withdrawn just before the vote was held. Abdullah Bliheg, speaker of the House of Representatives, claimed that the nomination had "unanimous consent of those present".

Both candidates formulated the main objectives of their political programmes before the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives also seeks to set up a committee for the formation of the Magna Carta and a strong electoral law. Sources close to Bashagha have revealed that the executive will be renamed the Government of National Solidarity (GNS).

Dbeibé is adamant that he will not support the emergence of new stages in the transition process. Nor will he allow the creation of a parallel authority and continues to accuse Saleh of trying to divide the country again by ending his mandate.

In March 2021, Libya succeeded in forming a unity government after a long process of talks following a contest between the side of Fayez al-Sarraj's Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The aim was to unify the warring administrations, one under al-Sarraj based in Tripoli and the other under Haftar backed by the eastern government in Tobruk, which waged a civil war for several years. 

Plans to find a settlement were undermined, but the executive was able to recover from this development. The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LDPF) and the UN entrusted Dbeibé with the task of ending the fighting that was ravaging the territory.

The political leader was to serve as interim prime minister until elections were held in December 2021. However, these polls did not take place as the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) took the decision to postpone them due to differences between the political and judicial branches. 

The fear now lies in the possibility of further clashes between Dbeibé's supporters and the parliament. The desire for change on the part of Libyan citizens is more than evident and all they want is a government that will ensure the recovery of their country.