Acting as the Head of the High Council of State, Mohammed Takala, issued a statement condemning the “unilateral measures” taken by the House of Representatives without consulting with the High Council of State, while Khalid Al-Mishri, also in his capacity as head of the High Council of State, issued a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh, in which he described the withdrawal of the title of Chief Commander of the Army from the Presidential Council as “invalid.”
Takala stressed that the executive authority remains “the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity,” and the Chief Commander of the Libyan Army remains “the Presidential Council,” according to the Geneva Agreement.
Takala accused the House of Representatives of encroaching on its duties and powers stipulated in the political agreement that is included in the Constitutional Declaration. He urged the members of the High Council of State to “put aside their differences and unite in the face of these conspiracies that pose a great threat to the stability, interests and future of the country.”
Meanwhile, Al-Mishri considered the House of Representatives’ decision “invalid” according to Constitutional Amendment No. 11, which defines the Presidential Council as exercising the powers of the Chief Commander of the Army.
The House of Representatives voted Tuesday end the term of the Government of National Unity and consider the Hamad government the legitimate one until a unified government is chosen, in addition to withdrawing the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Army from the Presidential Council and returning it to the House of Representatives.
