After years of armed conflict and territorial divisions between the country’s east and west, an interim government was established a year ago under the auspices of the United Nations, to lead the transition from here to a post initially scheduled for December. There was double presidential and parliamentary elections. 24.

Considered the culmination of the post-Gaddafi transition, these elections have been postponed indefinitely amid disagreements between rival camps: one power in the former embodied by the parliament and strong Caliph Haftar, and the other by the former. Around the West’s National Unity Government Abdelhamid Dabibah is based in Tripoli.

Parliament recognizes that the mandate of the current executive ended with the postponement of the election, but Dabiba reiterates repeatedly that he will only hand over power to a government that has emerged from the ballot box.

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At the end of a session held in Tobruk (East), parliament spokesman Abdullah Blihak announced the opening of candidates for the post of prime minister, specifying that the selected candidates would be auditioned by deputies on 7 February.

He said Parliament would meet the next day to choose a new caretaker prime minister.

“The government will continue to exercise its functions until the election”, Dabiba responded to Parliament’s announcement, accusing the chamber’s speaker, Aguila Saleh, a cacique from the east, of seeking to “maintain the division”.

“Most international actors reject the speaker of parliament’s vision for a transition period,” he was quoted by local media as saying.

Parliament’s view is not unanimous, including its representatives, some of whom called for the current government to be retained until future elections.

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The United Nations Assistance Mission in Libya (MANUL) also insists that a new presidential election date be fixed rather than a government reshuffle.

In a joint press release published in late December, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy demanded that a new electoral calendar be decided quickly.

Anticipating the escalation of the power struggle, these five countries also expressed their support for the continuation of the current executive mandate in Tripoli until the effective conduct of the elections.

Parliament on Monday called on Stephanie Williams, without naming “some ambassadors”, as well as the UN special adviser for Libya, “not to interfere in Libyan affairs”, according to Mr Blihek.