Libya’s HoR Approves 4+4 Committee Agreement in Benghazi Session

The House of Representatives held an official session today at its Benghazi headquarters, presided over by Speaker Ageela Saleh.

According to the House’s official spokesperson, Mr. Abdullah Blihaq:

– The House discussed the agenda item concerning the final agreement reached by the UNSMIL brokered “4+4 Committee” and ”voted unanimously to adopt it”.

– Regarding the Board of Directors of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), the Speaker presented two proposals for a vote: either approving the proposal of the High Council of State or approving the outcomes of the 4+4 Committee.

The House voted unanimously to adopt the 4+4 Committee’s recommendations regarding the Elections Commission, which entail appointing a new head for the Commission and adding two members to its Board of Directors.

– Under “other business,” the House unanimously agreed to form a committee comprising specialists, experts, and university professors to study the proposed unified salary scale for state employees.

– It also agreed to form a committee of specialists, experts, and university professors to examine the reasons why the decision to increase pension payments had not been implemented.

The session was subsequently adjourned.

Quorum?
The statement notably did not state how many members attended, so it is difficult to say if the session obtained a quorum. However, official HoR photographs indicate that only about 30 from the 200 elected members attended.

First official session in over eight months
It will be recalled that this will be the first time the HoR has sat in an official session for more than eight months. This excludes unofficial sessions where issues were debated without a binding vote.

Calls for sessions ignored by Saleh
Over this period there have been numerous calls by various HoR members on Speaker Salah to convene a session – without any success.

It is believed that Saleh has avoided holding an official HoR session because of the threat of his removal as Speaker.

Calls for removal of Saleh
There have also been calls for the removal of Saleh from his post as HoR Speaker – again without success.

HoR Speaker Ageela Saleh Convenes Official Session in Benghazi