Amid support and opposition from conflicting Libyan parties regarding the budget approved by the House of Representatives, many are questioning the role of the UN mission in Libya, as well as Western and Arab diplomatic missions. Will the Parliament’s move receive endorsement or face reservations and condemnation?
Nearly a week after the budget approval by the House of Representatives, the Acting Head of the UN Mission broke her silence, emphasizing the necessity of dialogue as a means to adopt a consensus budget.
This statement came during her meeting in Washington with Michelle Sison, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, and John Bass, Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. They affirmed the need to unify state institutions and maintain Libya’s unity and sovereignty.
The House of Representatives has not voted on a unified national budget since 2021, when it was estimated at around 80 billion dinars. Amid widespread controversy and disputes over political legitimacy, the House voted on a budget for the appointed government, which was described as the largest.
The size of the budget was notable, especially since the House of Representatives had sparked significant debate in 2021 when the Dbeibeh government proposed 110 billion dinars, claiming it “exceeded the needs of the period.”
The conflict between the House of Representatives and its rival, the High Council of State, escalated following the budget approval by the Parliament. The High Council of State rejected this action, deeming it a unilateral measure that violated previous political agreements between them.
Some believe that the stance of the High Council of State has become less significant given the progress towards approving a budget that will be distributed to the two competing governments in the east and west of the country.
The role of the United States and the European Union, as well as the practical influence of Western capitals, cannot be isolated from the situation. This influence led to convincing the Central Bank Governor of the importance of coordinating with the House of Representatives to resolve the state budget crisis for 2024.
The pressing question now is whether the budget, estimated at 179 billion dinars, will be passed despite the widespread opposition and the UN mission’s statement stressing the need for consensus on it.