By Sami Zaptia.
London, 29 April 2021:
The House of Representatives (HoR) committee set up to propose names to head Libya’s sovereign authorities has drawn up a lengthy list of names for the 10 positions and presented them to HoR president Ageela Saleh on 25 April.
The names were then sent by the HoR to the High State Council (HSC) on 26 April. For its part, the HSC met in Tripoli on 25 April and set up its own committee to assess the names.
Under Article 15 of the 2015 Skhirat Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), the HoR has to consult with the HSC and reach a consensus on the positions of :
- Governor of the Central Bank of Libya
- Head of the Audit Bureau
- Head of the Administrative Oversight Authority
- Head of the Anti-Corruption Authority
- Head and members of the High National Electoral Commission
- Head of the Supreme Court
- The Public Prosecutor
In reality, the names presented by the HoR are for:
- Central Bank Governor (9 nominations)
- Deputy CBL Governor (12 nominations)
- Members of the CBL board of directors (40 nominations)
- Head of the Audit Bureau (12 nominations)
- Deputy head of the Audit Bureau (11 nominations)
- Head of the Administrative Control Authority (13 nominations)
- Deputy Head of the Administrative Control Authority (18 nominations)
- Head of the Anti-Corruption Authority (12 nominations)
- Members of the Anti-Corruption Authority (43 nominations Head of the High National Electoral Commission (11 nominations)
- Members of the High National Electoral Commission (47 nominations)
There was nothing about the head of the Supreme Court and the Public Prosecutor. In the case of that latter that is because the HoR had already at its session on 20 April approved the nomination from the Supreme Judicial Council of Sidig Soor as Attorney General. At its session in Tripoli on 25 April, the HSC also approved Soor’s nomination.
The head of the Supreme Court had been elected separately by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court yesterday.
Hence, after almost five and a half years, Article 15 of the LPA is finally being put into effect. There is movement on making these long overdue appointments.
The State Council is expected to make its choices from the names submitted, although there is the possibility that it will suggest other names to the HoR. The HoR will then vote on the names. To be appointed, nominees have to be approved by two-thirds of the HoR members.