(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
Members from the eastern government’s House of Representatives (HoR) are preparing for a meeting to be held on Wednesday in the oasis town of Ghadames to discuss endorsing the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA)
The HoR was required to vote on accepting and joining the GNA, as was outlined in the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) ten days after signing the UN-backed peace deal on December 17, 2015.
However, despite its advantageous standing in the new government, the HoR has been reluctant to hold a meeting at its headquarters in Tobruk to give the unity government their vote of confidence.
The Tobruk-based eastern government has been in disagreement on whether to uphold their end of the LPA and endorse the GNA, with members in favor of endorsing the UN-backed government issuing a statement approving the GNA after having been repeatedly denied from holding meetings in the HoR headquarters.
Due to setbacks and complications by members who are against endorsing the GNA, HoR members in support of the unity government are preparing for the meeting in Ghadames on Wednesday to discuss their proposed endorsement of the UN-backed GNA.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj called on the HoR to work within the powers granted to them and not to undermine the agreement, explaining that the HoR’s reluctance to endorse the new government remains a major political obstacle in the way forward for Libya.
In addition, Martin Kobler, the UN-envoy to Libya, called on the eastern government to hold a meeting outside of Tobruk to vote on joining the GNA, and has previously stated that the HoR “remains central to the political process and to the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement.”