Libya's eastern parliament removes its speaker after nearly 12 years
Aguila Saleh, a long-time ally of Khalifa Haftar, has been replaced by a Tobruk lawmaker a day after MPs voted to limit the speaker's term.
PANM — Libya's eastern-based parliament has voted to remove its speaker, Aguila Saleh, after nearly 12 years in the post, Africanews reports.
Members of the 170-seat House of Representatives chose Al-Salhin Abdulnabi al-Obeidi, an engineer who represents the city of Tobruk, to replace him. The vote on Tuesday followed growing discontent among lawmakers over Saleh's leadership.
A new one-year limit
A day earlier, 98 members of the House approved a new system that limits the speaker and deputy speakers to a single term of 12 months. According to local media cited in the report, Saleh had rejected those proceedings, saying the vote had no legal effect.
What it means for the east
Saleh has been a firm supporter of Khalifa Haftar, the military commander who backs the eastern administration. Analysts quoted by Africanews say Saleh appears to have been weakened as Haftar's sons, and Saddam Haftar in particular, strengthen their own positions.
Libya has been unstable since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and remains split between the United Nations-recognised government in Tripoli and the rival administration in the east.
The change of speaker comes as a United States initiative to revive the political process and unify Libya's institutions is under discussion.
This report is based on reporting by Africanews.
