Libya’s eastern-based parliament ousted its speaker Aguila Saleh after nearly 12 years in the post amid growing discontent among lawmakers over his leadership.
Members of the parliament in the 170-member House of Representatives voted to replace him with Al-Salhin Abdulnabi al-Obeidi, an engineer who represents the city of Tobruk.
Saleh has been a staunch supporter of the eastern parliament’s Khalifa Haftar, but analysts say he appears to be weakened as the strongman’s sons, in particular Saddam Haftar, consolidate their positions.
The vote came a day after 98 members of the House approved a new system limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month period.
Saleh’s removal comes as a United States initiative aimed at reviving the political process and unifying Libya’s institutions is under discussion.
