Libya's fractured and troubled politics entered a new worrying phase on 11 March when the Libyan legislature, the General National Congress (GNC), passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. Following the vote current Defence Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni was declared the country's new caretaker prime minister. The vote of no confidence was the latest attempt at ousting Zeidan in 2014. He has come under increasing pressure of late due to his inability to reign in the various city- and ethnic-militia groups and take control of oil terminals. Opponents of Zeidan and of the GNC have also heavily criticized its current mandate, which the body unilaterally extended in December 2013. It was due to expire in February. The ousting of Zeidan will not, as his opponents, hope lead to an improvement in the current political and security situation. Short of a return to dictatorship, Libya's instability will continue as there are, quite frankly, to many interest groups in the country that are opposed to central government governance. Many of these groups are also incredibly powerful, such as Misratah, or heavily armed and well-supported, such as Ansar al-Sharia in north eastern Libya. One possible hope for the country lies in the Constituent Assembly, a body that is currently being formed to draft a new constitution. If this body can create a document that satisfies local political demands a solution to the instability can be found; however, whether this body will ever be formed or begin working is yet to be seen.
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