Tripoli— Speaking to a delegation from the High Council of State, PM Abdulhamid Dbeibeh pointed out Wednesday “the danger of existing partisan and foreign agendas seeking to deepen the division in Libya and to delay the holding of elections,” according to a statement by the Government of National Unity (GNU).
He stressed the “need to be aware of these attempts and confront them firmly.”
The delegation included the disputed Chairman of the High Council of State (HCS), Mohamed Takala, the two Vice-Chairmen of the Council and its Rapporteur, in addition to a number of heads of committees in the Council.
During the meeting, Dbeibeh praised the efforts of the Chairman and his colleagues in “protecting legislative institutions from attempts by some to impose foreign interference, and underlined the importance of preserving the independence of the national decision in a way that serves the interests of the Libyan people and enhances the stability of the state,” the statement said.
Mr. Dbeibeh demanded respect to the latest judicial rulings related to the previous dispute over the Council’s session on 6 August 2024 during which a Chairman of the Council was elected.
The Chairmanship was contested by Mohamed Takala and Khalid Al-Mishri and the result of the second round voting gave Takala 68 votes against 69 votes for Al-Mishri. The dispute resulted from whether one vote would be counted for Takala despite his name was written on the back of the ballot paper or it would be counted for Mishri. Both men resorted to courts to support their own claims, and both were able to get a court ruling in their favor.
The Prime Minister also pointed out the importance of supporting efforts aimed at expanding the circle of consensus within the High Council of State, “in a way ensures it plays its role in drafting the necessary laws and laying the constitutional foundation required for holding elections, as it is a national goal that cannot be postponed,” the statement said.
