TRIPOLI: The Libyan parliament yesterday began hearing seven candidates who are vying to replace prime minister Abdullah Al Thinni who quit last week just days after his appointment.
Thinni announced he was stepping down on April 13, five days after the General National Congress, or parliament, tasked him with forming a new cabinet, saying he had been the victim of an attack.
He had replaced Ali Zeidan, who was ousted a month earlier by the GNC, Libya’s highest political authority, for failing to rein in the lawlessness gripping the country.
Members of the GNC, were due to hear the candidates present their programme of government, but no date had been fixed for the vote. The winner needs to secure 120 votes out of 200.
Three of the competitors are seen as frontrunners: Omar Al Hassi, who comes from the eastern city of Benghazi, businessman Ahmed Miitig and Mohamed Buker, former director of the civil state department. But some observers doubt that the GNC, which is deeply divided, will be able to reach a consensus on a candidate.
The GNC was elected in July 2012 to an 18-month mandate but stirred popular anger by extending its term from early February until the end of December this year. Under pressure from demonstrators, it later announced early elections but gave no date for the vote. AFP
