The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) passed a constitution referendum law on Thursday, spokesman Abdullah Blehiq said.
Blehiq said that the HoR members agreed on ending controversy over Article 06 of the law by organizing the referendum as three polling centers; east, west, and south with each having 50 + 1 votes.
“The law won’t be sent to the High National Elections Commission until we have an amendment done to the constitutional declaration so the law cannot be challenged in courts.” He explained.
Article 65 has been a subject of controversy as it goes against the constitutional declaration which says there could be one polling center with two thirds of votes.
The HoR also discussed reshuffling Presidential Council into two deputies and one head from the three regions of Libya, with the HoR and the High Council of State nominating the figures.
Meanwhile, eastern MPs rejected the passing of the referendum law saying “30 members from Tripoli region” met and passed it on Thursday, adding that the law violates the constitutional declaration and needs amendment first and majority of two thirds of members afterwards.
They added that they had boycotted the session in which the law was passed saying “the law was passed in an illegal manner.”
“Law 4 should be applied here. Legislative committee should specify the quorum for the passing of the law and the legal status of the constitution draft before referendum.” The Cyrenaica MPs added in a statement.
Many east-based members reject the current constitution draft as they harbor separation ideas and need their region to be a state on its own, while others reject the draft as it excludes the possibility of Khalifa Haftar running for president over his second citizenship.
