The Tripoli Court of Appeal declared admissible on Sunday two appeals contesting the candidacy of the head of the Libyan interim government Abdel Hamid Dbeibah in the presidential election. These appeals were filed by candidates in the December 24 poll. Among them the influential ex-Minister of the Interior, Fathi Bachagha. A judgment that could further increase tensions in the country, with the approach of the presidential elections scheduled for next December.
According to several Libyan media, the court accepted the argument that Mr. Dbeibah did not resign from his post three months before the presidential election, as required by the electoral law.
The supporters of the Prime Minister evoke, them, a motion of censure voted by the parliament last October, which would have in fact, put an end to the functions of Adbel Hamid Dabeibah. But the court considers that the latter has continued to perform his duties normally since, which ” contradicts his candidacy “.
If the candidacy of the businessman from Misrata is rejected, he will have 72 hours to appeal. In the meantime, and a sign that the tension is gradually mounting, the police have started to assign patrols around all the seats of justice, in order to receive appeals for the presidential and legislative elections.
Because two appeals were also filed against the candidacy of Khalifa Haftar while that of the son of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was rejected. Several observers say they fear a return of military tensions as the electoral deadline approaches.