Libya’s new PM removed from post following no-confidence vote‏

Libya’s Parliament ousted the country’s newly-elected prime minister in a no-confidence vote, dismissing him from his post after failing to form a cabinet and win the legislature’s approval.

In a recent blow to hopes of restoring stability, Libya’s new post-war parliament removed Mustafa Abu Shagour, the newly elected prime minister, from his post.

Abu Shagour, a former activist in the opposition against Gaddafi and the first elected prime minister after Libya’s uprising, was given 25 days since September 12 to form a Cabinet and win the legislature’s approval. However, the deadline expired on Sunday.

Before the vote of no-confidence, Abu Shagour, who had taught engineering at the University of Alabama for about 17 years, said he was aiming to create a government of national unity that did not appoint ministers according to “quotas”.

Abu Shagour submitted his first list of 29 ministers, but was rejected for not being diverse enough. “The first government was not perfect. And we should have discussed and modified it.” He told told lawmakers. “I will not assume responsibility for a team that is not of my own liking,” he added.

His second list consisted of ten names for parliament’s approval, saying the remaining 19 posts would be managed by his proposed deputy prime minister, but Congress instead voted to remove him.

The General National Congress voted 125 versus 44 in favour of removing him as Prime Minister, with 19 abstaining from voting.

Abu Shagour, who was considered an acceptable candidate to liberals and Islamists in Libya, withdrew his line-up for government after the parliamentary chamber was stormed on Thursday by protesters.

He won his post by a small margin in a run-off vote against wartime premier Mahmud Jibril, who leads the largest liberal coalition in the assembly, the National Forces Alliance.

Until a replacement can be nominated, management of Libya’s government is in the hands of the legislature and the Congress will have to vote on a new prime minister in the coming weeks.

According to Libya’s transition plan, the incoming leader will be responsible for rebuilding Libya’s army and police force, and a new constitution is to be written and voted upon in a national referendum.

Fadi Elhusseini