Libya parliament votes no confidence in UN-backed government
BENGHAZI, Libya — Libya’s parliament voted “no confidence” in a U.N.-backed government on Monday in a major blow to international efforts to bring unity to the deeply divided North African country.
The vote could severely undermine the fledgling government, which Western nations see as the best hope for combatting a potent Islamic State affiliate and curbing human trafficking. Libyan forces allied with the government have driven IS out of much of its former bastion in the coastal city of Sirte with the aid of U.S. airstrikes.
Parliamentary spokesman Abdullah Ablahig said 61 lawmakers voted against the government, 39 abstained and one voted to support it, with enough members — 101 — to reach quorum. The overdue vote by the parliament, which had not convened in eight months, drew criticism from pro-government lawmakers, who said they were not told about the vote beforehand.
“This is cheating,” said pro-government lawmaker Galal Saleh, adding that parliament had not announced the confidence vote on Monday’s agenda. He said the pro-government bloc was invited to meet with opponents for a consultation, not a vote. The parliament convenes in Libya’s far east, while the U.N.-backed government is based in Tripoli.