The Supreme Council of State rejects Parliament’s decision to establish the Libya Reconstruction Fund

The Libyan Supreme Council of State announced its rejection of the House of Representatives’ decision to establish the Development and Reconstruction Fund for Libya, considering it an infringement on the powers of the executive authority.

Council Speaker Mohamed Takala said, in a letter addressed to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh: “We once again remind you of our complete rejection of everything issued by your Council in the February 6 session, considering it equal and nothing, especially the law establishing the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund.”

The letter considered the House of Representatives’ decision “a disdain for our role, an infringement on the executive authority, and an infringement on its powers,” stressing that this “indicates your deliberate disregard for the principles governing the course of the current political process.”

On February 6, the Libyan House of Representatives issued Law No. 1 of the current year establishing the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, and appointed Belkacem, the son of retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Haftar, as its director.

Article Six, regarding the Fund’s revenues, stipulates that a special budget shall be approved for it from the House of Representatives Reconstruction Fund, in addition to unconditional grants and aid, international and local loans and contributions, as well as lending through the Central Bank of Libya.

Yesterday, Monday, the Director General of the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, Belkacem Khalifa Haftar, took the legal oath before the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, according to a statement by the House of Representatives spokesman, Abdullah Belhaq.

A report issued by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union stated that Libya needs $1.8 billion for reconstruction and recovery from the torrential flood disaster that struck the city of Derna.

The report noted that the floods destroyed or damaged more than 18,500 homes, constituting 7% of the total housing stock in Libya, which initially led to the displacement of approximately 44,800 people, including 16,000 children.

In December 2015, the Libyan parties announced that they had reached a political consensus (the Skhirat Political Agreement), which stipulates that the House of Representatives should consult with the Supreme Council of State in issuing any laws or legislation and filling sovereign positions.

The Libyan authorities are making intense efforts to unify public institutions, as part of efforts to end a political and military conflict in the oil-rich country.

The Libyans hope to hold parliamentary and presidential elections to end conflicts and divisions that have been embodied since the beginning of 2022 in the presence of two governments, one of which is headed by Osama Hammad and appointed by the House of Representatives (east), and the other is the National Unity Government headed by Abdul Hamid Al-Dabaiba, which is based in the capital, Tripoli (west). With international recognition.

(Anatolia, Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed)