Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) has selected Ali Zidan as its new prime minister, tasking him with the formation of a new government following a vote of no confidence against former prime minister Mustafa Abushagur.

Zidan secured 93 votes in the 200 seat parliament on the evening of 14 October, while his nearest rival, Mohammad al-Harari won 85 votes, the local Tripoli Post reports.

Abushagur lasted less than a month as prime minister and was dismissed after failing to form a cabinet acceptable to the GNC.

Given the narrow margin of his victory, Zidan is likely to face similar difficulties in forming a government. He has two weeks to submit a cabinet list for approval in parliament.

Zidan was a diplomat for Muammer Gaddafi in India for two years before defecting in 1980 and joining the National Front for the Salvation, an exiled opposition group.