Libyan Presidential Council head Mohamed al-Menfi has urged the country's parliament to adhere to the constitutional provisions. On October 5, 2026, al-Menfi made the appeal in a post on his social media account. He emphasized the importance of upholding the country's laws and institutions. Al-Menfi's call comes amid a dispute within the parliament over a session held in the eastern city of Benghazi.
The dispute centers on a session held on October 5, 2026, in Benghazi, which was attended by 102 lawmakers. During the session, they voted to adopt a parliamentary term to pave the way for the election of a new council leadership. However, the session's legitimacy has been questioned by some lawmakers. Al-Menfi warned that engaging in "conflicting legitimacies" before the constitutional judiciary could have negative consequences.
Al-Menfi stressed that any interpretation or legal text must be consistent with the constitutional provisions. He specifically referenced Article 6, paragraph "d" of the sixth amendment, which relates to the constitutional quorum required to impeach the parliament's speaker. The amendment, passed in 2014, stipulates that a two-thirds majority vote is needed to pass legislation related to the impeachment of the parliament's speaker or members.
In a related development, the first deputy speaker of parliament, Fawzi al-Nuwiri, also appealed to lawmakers to abide by the law and preserve the unity of the institution. Al-Nuwiri stated that any meeting not conducted in accordance with the required procedures and quorum would not produce legitimate decisions. He expressed support for reforming the parliament's bylaws and strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Meanwhile, parliament's speaker, Aguila Saleh, has declared that the October 5 session was not official and would have no legal implications. He canceled a session scheduled for October 6, 2026, and postponed it to a later date. Saleh's move is seen as an attempt to assert his authority amid the internal power struggle within the parliament.
The spokesperson for parliament, Abdullah Bleyhq, announced that lawmakers had voted to adopt the parliamentary term with 98 votes in favor. The vote took place during the October 5 session, which was chaired by the second deputy speaker, Masbah Duma. The development highlights the deep divisions within Libya's parliament and the challenges facing the country's transition to stability.
The internal power struggle within Libya's parliament reflects the country's ongoing challenges in establishing a stable and functioning government. The dispute over the legitimacy of the October 5 session has raised concerns about the potential for further divisions and instability. The international community has been closely watching the developments in Libya, where a fragile peace has been maintained since a 2020 ceasefire.
Key points
- Mohamed al-Menfi urges Libyan parliament to uphold constitutional provisions amid internal power struggle.
- Libyan parliament's speaker declares October 5 session as unofficial, cites no legal implications.
- Parliament's internal divisions reflect Libya's ongoing challenges in establishing a stable government.
