Libya sets date to replace PM Dbeibah in elections
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While Western powers have been working to keep Dbeibah in his role in the elections, other local Libyan MPs have been pushing to replace him.
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Libya's interim Prime Minister, Abdelhamid Dbeibah.
On Monday, Libya's parliament announced that it will have a meeting next week to discuss the replacement for the interim Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, potentially escalating tensions between the country's eastern and western factions.
This announcement comes a month after the postponement of elections against a backdrop of bitter arguments over their legitimacy.
According to spokesperson Abdallah Bliheq, the assembly which is based in the country's east was ready to start examining applications for the role, and that candidates would witness hearings on February 7, and that a session will take place the next day to choose the winner.
Dbeibah's government had a mandate to be at the forefront of the December 24 elections in Libya, in which he was a candidate.
Since the elections were canceled, Aguila Saleh, parliament speaker, has advocated for the replacement of Dbeibah, contending that his mandate is finished.
In Tobruk, an eastern city in Libya, the parliament passed a no-confidence motion against Dbeibah's government last September, which was rejected by an upper house in Tripoli.
However, the United Nations, along with Western powers and some members of the parliament have pressured Dbeibah to remain in his role in the elections.
On Monday, Bilheq addressed "certain ambassadors" as well as the UN's top representative in Libya - Stephanie Williams - "not to interfere in Libyan affairs."
Reportedly, Dbeibah will only transfer power to an elected government.
