Ali Tarhouni Explained

Ali Tarhouni
علي الترهوني
Office1:Prime Minister of Libya
President1:Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Term Start1:23 October 2011
Term End1:24 November 2011
Predecessor1:Mahmoud Jibril
Successor1:Abdurrahim El-Keib
Office:President of the Constituent Assembly of Libya[1] [2]
Term Start:22 April 2014
Office2:Chairman of National Centrist Party
Predecessor2:Office established
Term Start2:27 February 2012
Office3:Deputy Prime Minister of Libya
Primeminister3:Mahmoud Jibril
Term Start3:2 October 2011
Term End3:23 October 2011
Predecessor3:Ali Abd-al-Aziz al-Isawi
Successor3:Mustafa Abushagur
Office4:Minister of Finance
Primeminister4:Mahmoud Jibril
Abdurrahim El-Keib
Term Start4:23 March 2011
Term End4:22 November 2011
Predecessor4:Position established
Successor4:Hassan Ziglam
Office5:Minister of Oil
Primeminister5:Mahmoud Jibril
Abdurrahim El-Keib
Term Start5:23 March 2011
Term End5:22 November 2011
Predecessor5:Position established
Successor5:Abdulrahman Ben Yezza
Birth Place:Marj, Cyrenaica (now Libya)
Party:National Centrist Party
Alma Mater:University of Libya
Michigan State University

Ali Abdussalam Tarhouni (Arabic: علي عبد السلام الترهوني, born 1951) is a Libyan economist and politician. Tarhouni served as the minister for oil and finance on the National Transitional Council, the provisional governing authority in Libya, from 23 March to 22 November 2011.[3] [4] [5] For a little over a week, he acted in the capacity of interim prime minister of Libya during the departure of outgoing incumbent Mahmoud Jibril from 23 October 2011[6] until Abdurrahim El-Keib was formally named to succeed Jibril on 31 October.[7]

Early life and education

Born in Libya, Tarhouni studied economics at the University of Libya, until fleeing the country in 1973. He was stripped of citizenship, sentenced to death in absentia, and put on a government hit list in 1981.[3] After immigrating to the United States, Tarhouni continued his studies, earning a master's degree (1978) and a PhD (1983) from Michigan State University. From 1985 up until the outbreak of the Libyan revolution, he had been a popular senior lecturer in business economics at the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business where he won numerous teaching awards.[8] [9]

Political career

Tarhouni was named to head both the oil and finance ministries of the National Transitional Council, an opposition council formed to coordinate anti-Gaddafi elements during the Libyan Civil War in March 2011.[3] He acted as a frequent spokesman for the council and wielded considerable influence as a prominent liberal in the opposition.[10] He officially announced the transfer of the NTC from Benghazi to Tripoli on 25 August 2011.[11]

On 3 September 2011, Tarhouni, acting as deputy chairman of the NTC's executive board, announced he was also chairman of a Supreme Security Committee, responsible for all security matters in Tripoli.[12]

Tarhouni was named deputy prime minister on 2 October 2011 after acting in that capacity for several months.[13] He succeeded Mahmoud Jibril as acting prime minister following Libya's declaration of liberation just 21 days later.[6] On 31 October 2011, Tarhouni's term as acting prime minister ended with the election of Abdurrahim El-Keib in a vote taken by the 51 members of the NTC.[14]

In 2012, Tarhouni founded the National Centrist Party, becoming its first leader. He said that his party would collaborate with Mahmoud Jibril's National Forces Alliance. He was elected as the head of the constituent assembly on 22 April 2014.[15]

After politics

Tarhouni said at a press conference in late November 2011 that he was offered a position in Keib's government, but he declined, claiming the new cabinet was "supported from the outside by money, arms and PR" in an apparent reference to the role of Qatar in backing the NTC. He criticised Keib's selection of government ministers as "the elite" and said the government was not sufficiently representative of the country.[10]

In December 2011, Tarhouni returned to Seattle for a week. He gave a brief speech at the University of Washington on 20 December in which he reflected on his role in the Libyan revolution and talked about his hopes for a democratic transition, including his aim of forming a new political party. Tarhouni also walked back his earlier criticism of the interim government, expressing confidence in its good intentions.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Libya begins work on constitution . 22 April 2014 . Magharebia . 4 May 2014 . 5 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505022124/http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/newsbriefs/general/2014/04/22/newsbrief-03 . dead .
  2. Web site: Ali Tarhouni voted head of Constitutional Assembly -. www.libyaherald.com. 22 April 2014 .
  3. News: Rebel Insider Concedes Weaknesses in Libya. The New York Times. 23 March 2011. Kareem. Tahim.
  4. News: The double life of a popular UW lecturer . The Seattle Times. 24 March 2011 . Katherine . Long . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110501033819/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014592498_tarhouni25m.html . 1 May 2011.
  5. News: Libya's NTC announces new cabinet. Al Jazeera. 22 November 2011. 22 November 2011.
  6. News: Libya declares liberation after Gaddafi's death. 23 October 2011. 23 October 2011. Borzou. Daragahi. Financial Times.
  7. News: Abdel Rahim al-Kib named new interim PM. BBC. 31 October 2011. 31 October 2011.
  8. News: UW faculty member working with Libyan rebels . https://archive.today/20120716182356/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014585802_apaflibyarebelfinances.html . dead . 16 July 2012 . The Seattle Times. 24 March 2011 . Ryan . Lucas .
  9. Web site: Ali Tarhouni Faculty Profile. University of Washington Foster School of Business. 15 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131018040108/http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/facultyresearch/facultyprofiles/Lists/Faculty%20Contact%20Info/DispProfile.aspx?ID=40388592708333. 18 October 2013. dead.
  10. News: Libya's Ex-Oil Minister Criticizes New Leaders. 25 November 2011. 25 November 2011. ABC News. Vanessa. Gera.
  11. News: NTC to Start 'Governing' by Moving from Benghazi to Tripoli . 26 August 2011 . The Tripoli Post . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111004214753/http://tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=6764 . 4 October 2011 .
  12. News: Libya's Interim Leaders Aim to Harness Rebel Fighters. 3 September 2011. The New York Times. Rod. Nordland.
  13. News: New cabinet takes shape in Libya. Al Jazeera. 2 October 2011. 2 October 2011.
  14. News: Abdul Raheem al-Keeb elected Libya's interim PM. https://web.archive.org/web/20111102002332/http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7LV46820111031. dead. 2 November 2011. Reuters Africa. 31 October 2011.
  15. News: Libyan charter panel elects liberal to lead constituent assembly. Daily News Egypt. 22 April 2014. 5 May 2014.
  16. News: Ali Tarhouni, Libyan leader and former Foster School lecturer, returns to campus. University of Washington Foster School of Business. 20 December 2011. 26 January 2017.