Libya: Prime Minister Dbeibah officially returns to his post

Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah presided over a government council on Thursday, marking his official return to office after taking time off to compete for president in a failed election.

Mr. Dbeibah first stated that the political situation is “critical,” referring to Libya’s failure to hold the presidential election scheduled for December 24 – the first of a head of state elected by universal suffrage in Libya – which had been widely anticipated as the end of the UN-sponsored peace process.

A legislative committee ruled two days before the election that it was impossible to organize the vote due to insurmountable differences, particularly over the legal basis of the election during which several polarizing candidates had to participate.

During the process, the High Electoral Commission requested that it be postponed to January 24. However, the Parliament has yet to ratify this date, leaving the election date in limbo. The election is intended to bring the country out of a decade of chaos since Muammar Gaddafi’s regime fell in 2011.

Since its mandate was about to expire on December 24, the interim administration in Tripoli (west) found itself weakened. The Tobruk (east) Parliament is currently debating a prospective government reshuffle.

Mr. Dbeibah, himself a contender, defended his performance, despite having sworn not to run for president when he was named leader of the interim administration in February.
He urged his ministers to “prepare for a significant (economic) rebound in 2022,” saying, “We have fought to restore security and promote stability.”

Court cases involving two of the administration’s ministers have also shook the executive.

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