JEDDAH: Libya’s parliament will hold a crucial vote for a new government on Tuesday in the first reunited session of parliament in years, hailed by the UN as “historic.”
The vote on interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s administration by 132 members of the 188-strong House of Representatives is a crucial step toward December elections and stability after a decade of violence.
Libya descended into chaos after dictator Muammar Qaddafi was toppled and killed in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
A UN-supervised process aims to unite the country after an October cease-fire between forces loyal to two rival administrations in the the east and west, each backed by foreign powers.
The historic parliamentary session in Sirte began on Monday.
The UN mission in Libya praised the “convening of a reunified session after many years of divisions and paralysis.” It added: “This is a critical step in unifying the country and preparing it to hold democratic national elections. This opportunity to open a new chapter for Libya should not be missed.”
After three hours of debate, parliament called for a new session on Tuesday to give Dbeibah a chance to respond to questions.
Dbeibah was selected in February at UN-sponsored talks attended by a cross section of Libyans to steer the country toward the Dec. 24 polls.
His interim government faces the challenge of addressing issues from a dire economic crisis and soaring unemployment to crippling inflation and poor public services.
Dbeibah, who urged parliament in a televised speech to confirm his government, has until March 19 to win approval for his Cabinet.
New Libyan parliament to hold vote on Cabinet
https://arab.news/vt6va
New Libyan parliament to hold vote on Cabinet
- Prime minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah was elected in February at a UN-sponsored dialogue
- Libya was thrown into years of violent turmoil after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and led to the killing of long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi
The art of war: fears for masterpieces on loan to Louvre Abu Dhabi
- UAE paid more than €1 billion to borrow priceless works, but experts in France want them back
PARIS: The Middle East war has raised fears for the safety of priceless masterpieces on loan from France to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the museum’s only foreign branch.
The Abu Dhabi museum, which opened in 2017, has so far escaped damage from nearly 1,800 Iranian drone and missile strikes launched since the conflict erupted on Feb. 28.
However, concerns are mounting in France. “The works must be removed,” said Didier Selles, who helped broker the original agreement between France and the UAE.
French journal La Tribune de l’Art echoed that alarm. “The Louvre’s works in Abu Dhabi must be secured!” it said.
France’s culture ministry said French authorities were “in close and regular contact with the authorities of the UAE to ensure the protection of the works loaned by France.”
Under the agreement with the UAE, France agreed to provide expertise, lend works of art and organize exhibitions, in return for €1 billion, including €400 million for licensing the use of the Louvre name. The deal was extended in 2021 to 2047 for an additional €165 million.
Works on loan include paintings by Rembrandt and Chardin, Classical statues of Isis, Roman sarcophagi and Islamic masterpieces: such as the Pyxis of Al-Mughira.
A Louvre Abu Dhabi source said the museum was designed to protect collections from both security threats and natural disasters.
