68 House of Representatives (HoR) members announced to Libyan media their refusal to hold or participate in an HoR session today unless the procedures and protocols governing its operations are observed.
They emphasized that, should an agenda be adopted, they would refuse to discuss any item other than the amendment of the internal regulations.
Following the announcement that the closed session of the HoR had begun this morning without their participation and without their agenda input, the boycotting members then issued the following statement:
- We affirm that the legal quorum required for the House to convene—defined as the presence of 87 deputies—has not been met; consequently, any session held in the absence of this quorum fails to satisfy the conditions for a valid meeting, and its outcomes are subject to legal challenge before the competent judicial authorities.
- Withholding the quorum is a legitimate democratic parliamentary practice that reflects the deputies' stance; it cannot be circumvented, nor can a fait accompli be imposed within the legislative institution.
- Should the current leadership persist in this course of action, we will move to convene a session with a full quorum—presided over by the eldest member—to take the necessary measures to elect a new leadership that respects the will of the House, adheres to its internal regulations, and upholds the regularity of its sessions and the independence of its decision-making.
- The House of Representatives is an institution governed by rules and procedures, not one reducible to specific individuals; legitimacy is not imposed through a fait accompli but is derived from respect for the law and the will of the members.
Speaker Saleh's dictatorial management of the HoR
The 68 boycotting HoR members have adopted this political stance after complaining for years that Speaker Saleh has been running the HoR not as an independent institution, but as his personal fiefdom.
First official session in over eight months
It will be recalled that today's official session was the first time the HoR has sat in an official session for more than eight months. This excludes unofficial sessions where issues were debated without a binding vote.
Calls for sessions ignored by Saleh
Over this period there have been numerous calls by various HoR members on Speaker Salah to convene a session – without any success.
It is believed that Saleh has avoided holding an official HoR session because of the threat of his removal as Speaker.
Calls for removal of Saleh
There have also been calls for the removal of Saleh from his post as HoR Speaker – again without success.
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