Al Lafi warns against politicising the judiciary and undermining state legitimacy
Deputy Head of the Presidential Council Abdullah Al Lafi, together with Council Member Musa Al Koni, reaffirmed the Council’s firm commitment to the principle of separation of powers, describing it as one of the fundamental pillars of Libya’s Constitutional Declaration and a key foundation of the modern state.
In a statement published on his official social media account, Al Lafi stressed that the independence of the judiciary remains a vital guarantee for protecting citizens’ rights and upholding the rule of law. He emphasised that judicial rulings are binding and self executing, and must be respected by all state institutions without exception.
The statement warned against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument in political disputes or as a means of settling scores between rival parties, describing such actions as a serious threat to judicial independence and a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the state.
Al Lafi and Al Koni also expressed strong opposition to any interference in the work of the courts or influence over judicial decisions, calling on all parties to respect the separation of powers and the integrity of the legal process.
They further underlined that the Presidential Council, as the collective head of state, must remain neutral and above political polarisation. “The Council is a unifying institution that guarantees the integrity and unity of the state. It should not be drawn into political rivalries or personal disputes, nor used in any alignment that compromises its neutrality or constitutional role,” the statement read.
The announcement came shortly after Presidential Council President Mohamed Al Menfi revealed plans to form a specialised legal committee to review all laws issued by the House of Representatives, assessing their consistency with the Libyan Political Agreement and broader constitutional requirements.
The developments follow a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber, which annulled amendments expanding the jurisdiction of military courts to include civilians in terrorism related cases and offences against state officials. The court also ruled Law No 10 of 2022, concerning the Official Gazette, unconstitutional, in a decision widely viewed as reinforcing the judiciary’s central role in safeguarding the rule of law.
