Libya's Courts in Open Dispute Over Constitutional Authority

Libya's High Constitutional Court in Benghazi has ruled that a recent decision by the Supreme Court declaring four parliamentary laws unconstitutional is itself null and void, stating that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction over constitutional disputes.

In a statement released Sunday, the High Constitutional Court said its ruling followed a case filed by House Speaker Ageela Saleh, who challenged the authority of the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court of Libya to invalidate legislation passed by the Libyan House of Representatives.

In late January, the Supreme Court’s constitutional chamber ruled that four laws issued by parliament were unconstitutional. These included:

• Law No. 22 of 2023 on Amending the Law on the Judicial System.
• Law No. 32 of 2023.
• Law No. 6 of 2015 on general amnesty.
• Law No. 1, which annulled laws enacted by the former General National Congress after August 3, 2014.

This legal standoff underscores the deepening divisions within Libya's judicial system, raising concerns about the potential for conflicting legal interpretations and the overall stability of the country's legal framework.

For more details on this development, you can refer to the original article on LibyaReview: Who Holds Constitutional Authority? Libya’s Courts in Open Dispute.