Libya's eastern parliament approves new Central Bank leadership

By Muhammed Semiz

TRIPOLI (AA) — Libya's eastern-based parliament on Monday approved the nomination of a new governor and deputy governor for the country's Central Bank.

Naji Mohamed Issa Belqasem was appointed as governor of the Central Bank and Mari Muftah Rahil Barrasi as his deputy during the session, attended by 108 members of parliament and broadcast live on the social media account of the House of Representatives.

Belqasem and Barrasi were tasked with appointing the bank's board members within 10 days.

In a statement, parliamentary spokesman Abdullah Belhaiq said the assembly voted to recognize the eastern-based cabinet led by Osama Hammad as "the legitimate government until a new unified government is chosen."

Lawmakers voted on Aug.12 to end the term of the Tripoli-based government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.

They also named its speaker, Aguila Saleh, the commander of the Libyan Armed Forces in place of the Presidency Council.

In response, the Presidency Council announced on Aug. 18 the appointment of a new Central Bank governor and board, a move subsequently rejected by the House of Representatives.

The dispute, which had escalated political tensions in the country in recent weeks, was resolved by the efforts of the UN Libya Support Mission.

Representatives from the parliament and the High Council of State met on Sept. 26 and agreed on the appointment of the governor and deputy governor of the bank.

Al-Siddiq Al-Kabir had held the position of Central Bank governor from 2011 until Aug. 22, when the Presidential Council appointed new leadership.