The past week has seen further setbacks for post-revolution
Libya with continuing security problems throughout the country plus a political
dispute which will inevitably delay the formation of a new and legitimate
government by at least a month.
Prime Minister elect, Mustafa Abushagur, was
dismissed from his post on 7 October following an overwhelming vote of no
confidence by the General National Congress (GNC). There were 125 members who
voted against him retaining his position, while only 44 voted for him and a
further 17 abstained. His dismissal came despite his energetic attempts to
sustain his proposals for a new cabinet. Comment & Analysis
provides further details and the chronology of the events of the past
week.
France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius
immediately called off his planned visit to Tripoli on 6 October when it became
apparent that there was no legitimate government to talk to; his visit will now
be rescheduled for a later date.
The GNC, recognising the need for a swift resolution to the
political crisis and to choose a consensus candidate, agreed to a proposal for
three new candidates to be nominated on 10 October. The three will be selected
from a list of individuals made up of two representatives from each of Congress'
main political blocs - the National Forces Alliance (39 representatives);
Justice & Construction Party (17); National Agreement group (26); the
Workers group (13); and the National Independent group (35) - plus a few genuine
independents. The winner, who will certainly have to be a compromise candidate
and will not include any of the main politicians who took part in the 12
September election, will need to win 101 of the 200 votes to become the next
prime minister elect.
The GNC vote could not have come at a worse time because Libya
desperately needs political stability and a strong government which can deal
with the current security crisis. There is a very real danger that if the GNC
continues for much longer to be unable to elect a prime minister, and then
approve his choice of ministers, foreign companies may soon give up on the
country and go elsewhere.
© 2012 Menas Associates
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