Libya’s GNC rejects UN proposal to grant Tobruk parliament power to legislate

UN envoy Bernardino Leon’s proposal to recognise the Tobruk parliament is “disappointing, unbalanced and disrespectful of the country’s Supreme Court ruling”, the Anadolu Agency reported a senior Libyan official as saying.

During a press conference in Tripoli, Deputy Chairman of Libya’s General National Congress Saleh Al-Makhzoum pointed out that the proposal “grants the legislative and legitimate authority in Libya to the UN recognised parliament in Tobruk”, describing the issue as “serious”.

Al-Makhzoum said he and members of his delegation to the UN sponsored dialogue in Skhirat, Morocco, were uncomfortable with the path the talks were taking saying: “We participated in the dialogue because Leon told us in Tripoli that we will try to find an appropriate solution in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling and the Tobruk Parliament election.”

Libya’s Supreme Court ruled earlier that the elections were unconstitutional.

Al-Makhzoum hinted at the possibility that the GNC will request the UN envoy be replaced saying: “Maybe international mediation could change, especially that some ambassadors who were present with us contacted us and expressed their displeasure with the dialogue path.”

He pointed out that the GNC “did not expect such a proposal that would turn the unity government into a toy in the hands of Tobruk parliament to topple whenever it wants and increase division.”

However, al-Makhzoum stressed the GNC’s commitment to the dialogue with or without Leon.

The General Conference will provide a detailed response to the proposal during the next session, he said.