By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 18 August 2013:
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan defended himself against public criticism that he repeats himself and has nothing new to say.
Speaking at last Wednesday’s press conference, Zeidan said that his critics say he repeats himself and that he has nothing new to say.
In response, the Prime Minister admitted that he repeats himself but added that he did this intentionally.
Furthermore, Zeidan said that he has asked for his government’s decisions and decrees as well as its activities to be put up on the Prime Ministerial website.
“We need to repeat” to the public what we are doing, he stressed, implying that his government had achieved quite a lot in such a short time and in such difficult conditions, but that it was not getting credit for this.
Explaining how he saw his “interim government’s role”, Zeidan pointed out that his government is not engaged in strategic long term plans. “We may put in place foundations for a future permanent government”, he explained.
“We are to create an environment for the GNC to draft the constitution and hold elections to choose a permanent government”, he explained, giving a very narrow role for his interim government.
With regards to Prime Minister Ali Zeidan repeatingly restating old news over a number of press conferences, this has been noted by the public and media for a few months.
A good example of this has been Zeidan using his weekly press conferences to attempt to pressure the GNC into releasing money to foreign contractors in order to recommence their stalled infrastructure projects.
Over the fasting month of Ramadan Zeidan reeled out his Ministers to repeatedly explain the reasons for the chronic electricity cuts that some say nearly led to his downfall.
Zeidan has also over a series of press conferences, repeatedly called for for an increased budget from the GNC. He has indirectly appealed to the general public over and above the heads of the GNC by explaining that without increased money he cannot achieve any of his policy aims and public demands.
Equally, the Prime Minister has also repeatedly announced that the army and police are being formed and that the militias or freedom fighters are being broken-up and reintegrated.
The most oft repeated statements by Prime Minister Ali Zeidan are often related to security. Zeidan has used the press conferences to reach out to the general public for patience, self-control, national unity, solidarity, cohesion and harmony at numerous crises points and during numerous clashes.
However, with the passage of time, the general public has grown frustrated by the lack of progress on various fronts. Zeidan has lost credibility by constantly announcing policies that do not translate into reality such as the formation of the army and police.
They expect that when Zeidan addresses them during a press conference, he will reveal something new. The public, in a state of limbo since the February 2011 revolution, are keen to hear good news – news of solutions to problems and progress that improves their lives. [/restrict]
