News / North Africa

Libya delays confidence vote over lack of quorum

Tuesday, 23 February 2016 3:25 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 23 February 2016 3:24 PM ]

Armed Libyan men take part in a demonstration marking the fifth anniversary of the Libyan revolution in the city of Benghazi on February 17, 2016. ©AFP

The internationally recognized parliament of Libya has failed to hold a vote of confidence in the UN-backed unity government over a lack of quorum.

Lawmaker Mohamed al-Abbani said on Tuesday that the session was adjourned as the required quorum that needs 89 members of parliament was not reached.

Another lawmaker, Ali Al-Qaidi, said the session for the vote was postponed until next week, pointing to differences between lawmakers on the proposed new government's program.

Disagreements over the order of the day were mentioned as another bone of contention.

Oil-rich Libya currently has two rival governments and parliaments.

In the summer of 2014, Libya’s recognized government escaped the capital, Tripoli, after a militia alliance captured the city. The internationally recognized legislature is now based in the eastern city of Tobruk.

That militia alliance, meanwhile, formed its own administration and parliament called the General National Congress (GNC).

The unity government was announced on January 19 to bridge a political divide that has undermined the fight against terrorist groups in Libya.

Militants affiliated with the Takfiri Daesh terrorists are present in the country, making efforts to gather local support.

Libya's Presidency Council, established after an agreement reached in December under UN auspices between representatives of the rival parliaments, recently proposed a new 18-minister cabinet headed by premier-designate Fayez al-Sarraj.

Many hope that Libya’s new administration, if endorsed by the legislature, would end the chaos gripping the country.

Libya has been grappling with violence and political uncertainty since the North African nation’s former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was deposed and later killed in 2011.

Daesh took control of Libya’s northern port city of Sirte in June 2015, almost four months after it announced its presence in the city, and made it the first city to be ruled by the militant group outside of Iraq and Syria.

Since then, the group has been boosting its presence in the violence-wracked country, particularly after the Iraqi and Syrian army advances against militants.

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