Omar al-Hassi
Quick Facts
Biography
Omar al-Hassi (Arabic: عمر الحاسي) is a Libyan politician elected by the former Libyan parliament, the New General National Congress, as prime minister in August 2014, challenging the authority of the turbulent country's previously elected Council of Deputies.
He is a former member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.
Islamist members of the Libya's former General National Congress (GNC) who failed to be re-elected to the new parliament claimed to have reinstated the GNC and appointed al-Hassi as their "Prime Minister" on 25 August 2014.
Al-Hassi was the runner-up on April 29 in the first round of the Libyan parliament's disputed voting for prime minister. The proceedings were later declared illegal by the Supreme Court. He was set to run against Ahmed Maiteeq when gunmen stormed the parliament to prevent a second round vote from taking place on April 29.
On 31 March 2015, the GNC announced that al-Hassi had been fired due to unspecified accusations by an auditor and friction with fellow Tripoli officials. Some reports suggested he lied to legislators about the government's fiscal situation. Al-Hassi said he would consult with his "revolutionary partners", an apparent reference to armed groups that have supported him, before determining whether to accept his dismissal, which he said was made illegally.
On 1 December 2016, he announced the formation of the High Council of Revolution, who is a parallel executive body.