The Libyan House of Representatives marks its 10th anniversary today, Tuesday, amidst an increasingly complex local political scene, lacking solutions or agreements to overcome the political crisis and steer the country out of its current predicament. What roles has the parliament played over the past decade, and what is expected from it moving forward?
A Temporary Parliament
The election of the House of Representatives was the third milestone of the transitional phase, according to Law No. 10 of 2014 issued by the General National Congress. The election law stipulated that the House of Representatives, whose members were elected by direct voting, would serve as the temporary legislative authority during the transitional period.
Questioning Legitimacy
The legislative body faced challenges from the start. One of its members challenged the legitimacy of its first session in the Constitutional Court, leading to a legal dispute over the session’s location and date.
In November 2014, the Supreme Constitutional Court accepted a lawsuit filed by newly elected member Abdulraouf Al-Manai, contesting the constitutional validity of the General National Congress and the House of Representatives’ call for the handover session. The session was initially scheduled for August 8 in Tripoli but was moved to August 2 in Tobruk, violating the amended Constitutional Declaration which stated that only the President of the General National Congress could call for such a session in Tripoli or Benghazi.
Stripped of Legitimacy
On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court accepted the challenge and ruled the House of Representatives in Tobruk illegitimate, nullifying all decisions and institutions formed under it. This ruling was broadcast live from Tripoli amidst heightened security measures.
The court ruled that the law governing the June 2014 parliamentary elections, prepared by the February Committee of the General National Congress, was unconstitutional. This ruling effectively dissolved the current House of Representatives and all its decisions, including the formation of the government led by Abdullah Al-Thani and the announcement of presidential elections.
Legal Violations
In most countries, the term of parliament does not exceed five years. However, in Libya, the current House of Representatives, elected on August 4, 2014, was initially given a mandate of one year and two months. The parliament extended its mandate before it expired on October 6, 2015.
Today, ten years after its election, the parliament, led by Speaker Aguila Saleh and its 200 original members, continues to operate without renewing its mandate.
Vacant Seats
Despite around 20 vacant seats in the legislature due to deaths, murders, kidnappings, resignations, and boycotts, the parliament has not sought replacements, leaving these seats empty and highlighting the institution’s ongoing struggles.
Aguila Saleh’s Dominance
For ten years, Speaker Aguila Saleh has been the parliament’s primary decision-maker, leveraging his political experience from the Gaddafi era to maintain control.
Forming a Unified Government
Whenever discussions progress toward forming a unified government between the East and West, Aguila Saleh uses his veto power to impose conditions, such as including Osama Hammad’s government or excluding Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s government, to move forward.
Parliamentary Powers
The House of Representatives is tasked with approving transitional legislation, granting and withdrawing confidence in the Cabinet, approving the general budget, overseeing the executive authority and all state institutions, and approving the general policy presented by the government. It exercises powers specified in the temporary Constitutional Declaration and its amendments.
High Costs
Despite the Libyan dinar’s decline, with the official exchange rate at 5 dinars per dollar and 7 dinars on the black market, a report by the Ministry of Finance revealed that salaries for the House of Representatives and its affiliated bodies amounted to 1,252,077,881 dinars from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
Voter Participation
A total of 1,509,317 voters, including 603,708 women, registered electronically across 1,625 polling stations. The candidacy of 1,713 candidates, including 152 women, was approved. Despite difficult circumstances, over 630,000 voters participated in the election, with a turnout of 41%.