Libya’s eastern parliament replaces speaker after term limit vote
The House of Representatives elected Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, ending Aguila Saleh’s 12-year tenure amid disputes over leadership and the validity of a new term limit.
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has elected Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi as speaker, replacing Aguila Saleh, who had held the role since 2014. The vote concerns the eastern parliament and does not change Libya’s divided national leadership.
The election followed approval by 98 members of a rule limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term. The House also elected Tarek al-Ashtar and Misbah Douma as first and second deputy speakers.
Lawmaker Jebree Oheida told Reuters that lawmakers were dissatisfied with Saleh’s leadership, including decisions made without consulting them. Saleh disputed the term-limit vote, saying it was unofficial and had no legal effect, according to the Libya Observer. The legal status of the proceedings remains unclear.
The House sits in Benghazi and is part of the eastern political camp, which is rival to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli. In August, representatives of rival camps signed a UN-mediated agreement aimed at enabling presidential and legislative elections within two years.
