Ali Tarhouni, the former interim oil and finance minister in Libya’s national Transitional Council, has slammed the new government as an unrepresentative “elite” propped up by “by money, arms and PR” from outside the country.
Tarhouni, a widely respected figure who turned down a continuing role in the new interim government, told the Associated Press that “the voices that we see now are the voices of the elite” “some which we know and some which we don’t know.”
Tarhouni’s name was a shock absence when the new Libyan interim government was announced. He was due to give a press conference at the tim the new governemnt was announced whcih was abruptly cancelled. His replacement, Abdurrahim Ben Yazza, is a former Eni executive regarded as an objective technocrat.
While he didn’t elaborate, Tarhouni did not object when a journalist suggested that he was speaking about Qatar, according to an AP report.
Last week the chairman of the NTC Earlier this week, also indicated that Qatar was meddling in Libyan affairs.
Tarhouni, who reportedly worked tirelessly to obtain cash and restore basic services after the war, told journalists he will be speaking to young Libyans about democracy and civil institutions, and is widely expected to stand for election next year.
