Libya's new parliament speaker, Salehin Abdulnabi, held a meeting with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, at the army's headquarters in Benghazi. The meeting comes after Abdulnabi was elected as the new speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. According to a statement by the parliament's spokesperson, Abdullah Bleihq, Haftar congratulated Abdulnabi on his election and wished him and his team success in their new roles.
During the meeting, the two discussed the latest developments in the country and emphasized the importance of supporting efforts to promote stability and unify state institutions. The meeting is seen as a significant step towards promoting national reconciliation and stability in Libya, which has been plagued by conflict and division in recent years. Abdulnabi's election as speaker was seen as a major development in the country's efforts to establish a new government.
The election of Abdulnabi as speaker was not without controversy, however. The previous speaker, Aqila Saleh, who had held the position since 2014, claimed that the session that elected Abdulnabi was irregular and had no legal effect. Saleh, who is 82 years old, had been a dominant figure in Libyan politics for many years. Despite this, Abdulnabi's supporters argue that his election was a legitimate and democratic process.
In response to Abdulnabi's election, 12 lawmakers, who called themselves the "Free Parliamentarians," issued a statement calling for a new session to be held in the capital, Tripoli, to elect a new leadership for the parliament. They argued that the parliament should be free from external interference and that its members should be able to make decisions without fear of intimidation or coercion.
Khalifa Haftar's stance on the matter has been seen as significant, given his influence in Libyan politics. Haftar stated that the Libyan National Army respects the country's institutions and their independence, and that it will support efforts to promote stability and unify state institutions. His comments were seen as an endorsement of Abdulnabi's election and a sign of support for the new parliament.
The meeting between Abdulnabi and Haftar was also seen as a significant development in the country's efforts to establish a new government. The two have been key players in Libyan politics for many years, and their agreement to work together could help to promote stability and national reconciliation. Libya has been plagued by conflict and division since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The international community has been closely watching developments in Libya, and many countries have expressed support for the country's efforts to establish a new government. The United Nations has been working to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and many countries have provided financial and technical assistance to support the country's transition to democracy.
Key points
- Salehin Abdulnabi was elected as the new speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
- Abdulnabi held a meeting with Khalifa Haftar to discuss unifying state institutions and promoting stability in the country.
- The meeting between Abdulnabi and Haftar was seen as a significant step towards promoting national reconciliation and stability in Libya.
