The High Council of State (HCS) Head, Khaled Al-Mishri, said Saturday that the council does not have the authority to give confidence to a new prime minister.

Al-Mishri added in a speech broadcasted on the HCS Facebook account Facebook that there is a consensus among Libyans for the need to move beyond the current legislative bodies, including the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.

The HCS discussed with Parliament several important and strategic issues to ensure the continuity of the democratic process, especially the constitutional path, which is the first requirement in Libya, the HCS head said.

He explained that the HoR pushed for amending some articles in the Libyan constitution, while the HCS priority was to go to a constitutional referendum, as it is more important than opening the Libyan constitution itself, as he put it.

Both the HCS and HoR agreed to open the door for a new Prime Minister and executive authority, and they set conditions for this matter, Al-Mishri confirmed.

PM candidates need at least 40 recommendations from Parliament and 30 recommendations from the HCS, said Al-Mishri, who added that Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah was also entitled to run for a new term.

"Three candidates applied to obtain recommendations from the HCS, including Fathi Bashagha, who received approximately 52 recommendations, Khaled Al-Bibas received 26 recommendations, and another candidate -whose name was not mentioned- who received five recommendations."

Al-Mishri emphasized that the HCS is communicating with Parliament with respect to the complaints related to the process of candidacy and the HoR voting that led to appointing another PM.