Bashagha, Maiteeq among candidates to replace embattled Libyan PM

The Libyan parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR), has accepted the candidacies of former members of Government of National Accord (GNA), the previous Libyan administration, as candidates to replace incumbent Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh being pushed out.

Fathi Bashagha, former interior minister of the GNA and Ahmed Maiteeq, deputy head of the GNA, both from Misrata, have submitted their applications following decision by the HoR on Monday to replace Dbeibeh, Update Libya reports citing Muhammad Al-Abani, a member of parliament.

The HoR has set February 08 as the date to vote for the Libyan Prime Minister’s replacement.

Dbeibeh, in power since February last year, is being ousted for failing to organize the general elections that were supposed to take place in December 2021.

Dbeibeh has accused the HoR speaker Aqila Saleh for trying to bring back division and fragmentation to the country.

Speaking to Al Jazeera network on Monday, the Libyan Premier said that his government will continue its work until the holding of elections.

He added that he had contacted all international parties and they had all assured him of their opposition to Saleh’s attempts to create a new transitional period.

Bashagha and Maiteeq also enjoy the support of Khalifa Haftar, the warlord and Eastern Libya strongman. The three met in December in Benghazi to bring together their visions for the upcoming stage of the political process.

It was reported that the three met up to agree on forming a new government to replace the Government of National Unity headed by Dbeibah.