House of Representatives Speaker Aqila Saleh has called for the urgent formation of a new unified government to replace the Government of National Unity and Hammad's government, stressing that Libyans “need food, medicine, electricity, education, and salaries first—a role of the executive authority.”
In response to calls for holding parliamentary elections, Saleh said in a video statement on Saturday that forming a new unified government has nothing to do with holding elections. He added that if there are calls for parliamentary elections, then presidential elections can also be held simultaneously on the same day.
Saleh accused the Presidential Council of “encroaching” on legislative authority and siding with obstruction, reiterating his rejection of the council’s issuance of decrees with legal force. He called for the formation of a new authority as soon as possible.
“We no longer have multiple paths or a range of solutions. We must urgently move toward forming a new authority and implementing that based on the political agreement through consensus between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.” He said.
He said their experience with multiple tracks and dialogue tables has failed to meet the aspirations of Libyans—from Skhirat to Geneva, which only prolonged the crisis, deepened the division, and worsened political, economic, and social conditions, along with financial and administrative corruption.
“The Presidential Council has no right to issue decrees with the force of law. Even in stable countries, an elected head of state cannot issue such laws by decree unless granted that power by the constitution and only under exceptional circumstances in the absence of a legislature—after which the decree must be submitted to the legislative authority for approval or cancellation upon its return.” Saleh said.
His remarks come days after the Presidential Council issued a decree annulling a House of Representatives' law that established a Supreme Constitutional Court in Benghazi, in addition to two other decrees regarding the election of a General Conference for National Reconciliation to be based in Sirte, with its members elected from each municipality.
