Asharq Al-Awsat talks to new Libyan PM Mustafa Abushagur

Tripoli, Asharq Al-Awsat – In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat just a few hours after being elected Prime Minister by Libya’s parliament, Mustafa Abushagur stressed that his priority would be security.  Abushagur was elected prime minister just one day after the attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi which resulted in the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.  Abushagur, speaking prior to the vote, called the attacks “cowardly and criminal.”  The new Libyan Prime Minister lately confirmed that the first “arrests have been made” and that the investigation into the attacks is ongoing.

Abushagur was appointed Libya’s new Prime Minister on Wednesday.  He has 30 days to form a cabinet.  He was elected to the post with 96 votes in comparison to Mahmoud Jibril’s 94.  He previously served as Libya’s Deputy Prime Minister, being appointed to this post on 22 November, 2011.

The following is the full text of the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] In an unprecedented scene in Libyan history you were elected to the post of prime minister by just two votes: did you expect it to be so close?

[Abushagur] There can be no doubt that this is truly an unprecedented scene in Libyan history, for this is the first time that the Libyan people have elected a prime minister.  I have great respect and appreciation for Mr. Mahmoud Jibril, and this is something that is confirmed by what he did during the days of the revolution.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is there any chance of Jibril, or any of his team, being appointed in your government?

[Abushagur] No doubt, I think he has a role in the cabinet, for I intend to form a national consensus government.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you intend to form a government that represents all spectrums of Libyan society?

[Abushagur] Yes, certainly.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] The National Front party has managed to secure the posts of president and parliamentary speaker, and there are fears that it will monopolize the political scene.  What is your view of this?

[Abushagur] I am not a member of the National Front party.  In fact, I am not a member of any political group, and so I can say that the National Front has not taken the prime minister’s post.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Many people view you as being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.  Why is that?

[Abushagur] (laughs) I do not know why.  I am somebody who is proud to be a Muslim, but I am not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.  Perhaps, in some people’s view, anybody who is a Muslim is a member of the Brotherhood.  With all respect to this group as a leading Islamic movement, I am not a member of this group nor any other political ideology.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] It is being reported that the majority of the MPs who voted for you have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood , and therefore you will be a Brotherhood prime minister. How do you respond to that?

[Abushagur] The reality is that independent MPs not affiliated to any party supported my candidacy during the first electoral round, however I believe that some members of the Justice and Construction party (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood) voted for me during the second round, and that is only natural.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What will be the priorities for your government?

[Abushagur] There can be no doubt that the most important issue is the security file, as well as forming the military and police based on modern and practical methods and securing the country’s affairs as quickly as possible, by which we mean extending the state’s authority and prestige over all Libyan territory.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you expect this task to be easy?

[Abushagur] No, this task will be very difficult, but this has fallen to us, and we can overcome it.  We will be able to achieve this thanks to our own will, the determination of the Libyan people and the aid of the rebel youth and the institutes of the civil state.  The security issue is the issue of every member of the Libyan people, in addition to the government apparatus; we want Libya to be safe and stable, God willing.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Will you include the Libyan rebels in your government?  What form will this government take?

[Abushagur] The government will be formed of competent parties capable of implementing the programs and projects we have named above.  Yes, we will make use of the qualified Libyan rebels, whilst the geographic make-up of Libya will also play a role [in the formation of the government].  Every city and village in Libya has qualified people, and this is how we will form the new government.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you intend to keep any government ministers in their position or appoint a completely new cabinet?

[Abushagur] If this does happen, it will be limited to a few cases.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Does this mean you want a new beginning for the Libyan people?

[Abushagur] That’s right, I want a new page and new blood so that people can see that this government is new, but that it has the capability to endure.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Did you truly expect to triumph over Mahmoud Jibril and be appointed to the post of prime minister, particularly given the prominent role played by Jibril during the revolution?

[Abushagur] Yes.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What did you base this expectation on?

[Abushagur] This is based on two aspects.  Firstly, the fact that many Libyans urged me to compete for the post of prime minister of the new country.  I am confident that the people themselves are confident in my own capabilities, which is something they have seen regarding the issues that I dealt with in the past and during my previous post [as deputy PM].  The second reason, in my view, is the desire to have a government that is capable of operating from day one; for if there was another prime minister, he would not be familiar with the country’s affairs, and would require months to get up to speed, however time and position are not on our side.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] When will you announce the formation of your government?  Can we expect this within the next week or two?

[Abushagur] Yes, God willing.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can you confirm that your first official duty as prime minister was to meet with the leadership of the Libyan rebels?

[Abushagur] Yes, my first meeting was with these youth who were responsible for the revolution, and they were also the protectors of the revolution and the country over the past 10 months. I believe that they will have an important role in the future of the country.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] The Libyan people expect much from you.  Will you be able to live up these expectations?

[Abushagur ] Yes, there can be no doubt that the ceiling of expectations is very high, and we will try – God willing – to achieve what can be achieved.  The Libyan people have great aspirations and we will work to achieve these; we hope that they will see the impact of this on their daily lives soon.