Libya’s parliament swears in Ahmed Matiq as prime minister after disputed vote

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libya’s parliament has sworn in a new prime minister despite a disputed vote.

A Libyan television station and lawmakers say the country’s interim parliament swore in 42-year-old businessman Ahmed Matiq after a vote Sunday.

Initially, only 113 lawmakers voted for Matiq, falling short of the 120 votes necessary to secure his win. After the session was adjourned, Libyan TV station Al-Ahrar reported that voting resumed and Matiq secured eight new votes.

Lawmaker Mohammed Samoud confirmed Matiq, from Misrata, won.

Lawmaker Fatma al-Majbari told Al-Ahrar the new votes came after the session was adjourned. She says she will contest the decision.

Omar al-Hassi, a political science professor from the country’s second-largest city of Benghazi, ran against Matiq. He is backed by the hard-line Islamist bloc in parliament.