Academician becomes the new PM of Libya

Abdurrahim_el_Keib_new_pm_libyaAbdurrahim El-Keib, a scientist, was plucked from academic obscurity to become the head of the of the new government has set upon the task of selecting his cabinet for his government and hopes to please the discontented group that were behind the overthrow of Muammer Gaddafi reign.

A relatively unknown figure before his election as the new PM of Libya, Abdurrahim El-Keib has confounded researchers by the reason behind his election. Some say it is because his links to the capital offering a balance to the hold on the National Transitional Council (NTC) by eastern Libyans from Benghazi, the seat of the uprising. Also His lack of past service under Gaddafi, in contrast to NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil and others, and his presence in Libya during most of this year’s fighting, in divergence to the outgoing wartime prime minister Mahmoud Jibril, may also boost his legitimacy as the government tries to organise elections.Keib was elected with 26 votes from the 51-member NTC on Monday in Tripoli, taking over from Jibril, who had promised to resign once the killing of Gaddafi and fall of final defenders of support allowed last week’s declaration of liberation.

Keib has additional two weeks to form his transitional government.The administration should organise an election in the first half of next year to an assembly that will draft a constitution.

Academician becomes the new PM of Libya

Report by Adhir Roy Chowdury