ESQ Legal Practice Magazine JUNE 2014 EDITION | Page 33

LIBYA TOP COURT
DECLARES PM APPOINTMENT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL

L

ibya's Supreme
Constitutional Court
on Monday refused
to accept the
appointment of
Ahmed Maetig as the
country's new prime minister,
declaring the nomination
unconstitutional. The rejection
of the Islamist-led
parliament's appointment was
not accompanied by any
further details or instructions
[AP report], and the
parliament has said it will
comply with the court's
decision, leaving interim
Prime Minister Abdullah alThinni in office. Maetig's
election win came after he
earned 121 votes [Al Jazeera
report], just surpassing the 120
needed under Libya's
constitution, and has been

33 I EsQ legal practice

contested by some politicians
and judicial experts. Although
Thinni announced his
resignation [Al Jazeera report]
in April, he has refused to
hand over power to Maetig or
recognize his cabinet. Maetig
has stated that he will respect
the court's decision. The top
UN envoy to Libya has
praised the decision and also
promised to respect it.
Questions about the rule of
law in Libya have arisen in the
wake of the 2011 uprising
[JURIST backgrounder] and
subsequent civil war that
deposed Muammar Gad