Aguila Saleh: The decision to impose the tax was issued by the House of Representatives, and he was not present when the decision was presented and voted on.

Al-Qubbah, March 4, 2026 (LANA) – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, stated that the decision to impose taxes on certain goods was issued by the House of Representatives during its session held on January 13, and that he was not present when the decision was presented and voted upon.

This came in a press briefing by the Speaker, in which he clarified what he described as the circumstances surrounding the decision to impose taxes on certain goods, amidst the ongoing public and media debate surrounding the decision.

Saleh explained that after reviewing the session's conclusions, he issued a press statement calling for a halt to the imposition of taxes on essential consumer goods, in order to avoid any negative impact on living conditions. He noted that he had requested the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya not to implement the decision until the matter was resubmitted to the House of Representatives, following consultations with experts and specialists in the fields of economics, finance, and accounting, to ensure that the appropriate decision is made in the best interest of the nation and its citizens.

In a press briefing, Speaker Aqila emphasized that demanding the cancellation of the tax is not a flaw if it becomes clear that the previous decision did not serve the public interest. He stressed that returning to the right path is a virtue, and that responsibility necessitates reviewing decisions that may affect citizens.

The Speaker called on the public to review the parliamentary session recordings and minutes to understand the proceedings surrounding the tax approval. He affirmed that the final decision in such matters rests with the parliament, whether to approve, amend, or cancel the tax.

The Speaker concluded by reiterating his firm stance that issues affecting citizens' lives must be resolved within the parliament after consultation with experts, ensuring balanced decisions that consider the public interest.

...(LANA)...