HoR's government rejects Al-Mnifi's demand.

Benghazi, June 16, 2025 (LANA) – The Libyan government assigned by the House of Representatives rejected the demand made by Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed Al-Mnifi for MPs to adhere to the requirements for approving budget laws, describing it as containing legal fallacies and constitutional violations.

The government said in a statement issued on Monday that the Presidential Council, in accordance with the Geneva Agreement, has clearly defined its powers, including representing the state, appointing ambassadors, and addressing the national reconciliation file. It has not been assigned any legislative powers or directing the legislative authority. These powers are exclusively vested in the elected legislative authority in accordance with the Constitutional Declaration and its amendments, without restriction or condition.

It added that the Presidential Council Chairman's attempt to interfere in the jurisdiction of the executive and legislative branches under the pretext of protecting public funds constitutes a clear violation of the principle of separation of powers and a blatant attempt at political and financial blackmail. The statement added that the President of the Presidential Council has exceeded the powers granted to him under the Geneva Agreement, assuming his continued legal presence. This is not surprising, as he has monopolized the Council, marginalizing the other members in decision-making.

The government accused the President of the Presidential Council, whom it described as having reached the end of his term, of extravagance and reckless spending over the past years through the fictitious allocations he disbursed. He also accused the outgoing government of turning a blind eye to the unprecedented and illegal waste of public funds. He also caused a crisis at the Central Bank, where he overstepped the limits of his authority by enabling an outlaw group to seize control of its institutions and embezzle its funds for an entire month without accountability, according to the statement.

The statement stated that the President of the Presidential Council is attempting to create a new crisis, aiming to obstruct the country's reconstruction and development process, which was entrusted to the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund under Law No. 1 of 2024.

On the other hand, according to the statement, the government affirms that the High Council of State is an advisory council to the government only, not to the legislative authority, but rather participates in the appointment of sovereign positions exclusively specified under the aforementioned agreement.

=Lana=