Libyan National Congress Ousts New Prime Minister

Abushagur Fails to Form Government

After Libyan Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur named a cabinet which entirely cut out the pro-NATO bloc, his days were numbered. Just days later, the Libyan parliament has passed a vote of no confidence, forcing him from office.

Abushagur was only prime minister for a few weeks, having been elected on Sept 12 and finally proposing his cabinet last week. Faced with protests, he was given 72 hours to name a new cabinet, and when that failed the vote of no confidence was held.

His ouster means the Libyan National Congress will have to find a new prime ministerial candidate, who will likewise struggle to satisfy the independent-heavy parliament with a broad cabinet.

There are no indications so far who the next candidate will be, but the pro-NATO bloc the National Forces Alliance is said to be in contact with the Muslim Brotherhood on a mutually acceptable candidate.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.