By Libya Herald.
Tripoli, 12 October 2015:
Amid widespread continuing criticism across Libya at the proposed names to lead the new Government of . . .[restrict]National Accord, the House of Representatives (HoR) broke up this evening without any decision on whether to accept the draft agreement or the proposed names of the prime minister, thee deputy premiers and the two other ministers who together make up the six-man presidency council. Further discussions are expected tomorrow, Tuesday.
Today’s meeting, which HoR president Ageela Salah Gwaider said would result in a vote on the names and the latest Draft from UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon, started late because there were insufficient members present to make up a quorum.
When it finally took place, there was criticism from members of both the names presented and the latest Draft. The session is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Tuesday.
Meanwhile, further changes from Leon are reported to the text, notably strengthening the powers of the prime minister.
For its part, the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli has not yet met to consider the names or the latest Draft, despite reports it has done so and rejected it. According to sources within the GNC, its president Nuri Abu Sahmain, who opposes the Draft, has avoided summoning a session. However, another source close to the GNC who did not want to be named also claimed that there was now a majority in favour of both draft and names and it intended to sign a statement to that effect and send it to Leon.
Separately, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, the Justice and Construction Party, has said that while unhappy with some of the names presented, including Leon’s suggestions for government ministers, it accepted the proposals. The Wattan (Nation) Party of Tripoli power broker Abdulhakim Belhaj has said the same, effectively endorsing the plan. The National Front of former GNC president Mohamed Magarief said that while it was surprised by the names it too supported the plan.
The National Forces alliance of Mahmoud Jibril said it had not been part of the dialogue. [/restrict]
