Africa-Press – Angola. The Bills amending the Organic Law on General Elections, the Official Electoral Register and the Organic Law of the National Electoral Commission have just received the green light from the MPLA and UNITA, which unanimously approved the rules and procedures that will regulate the 2027 general elections.
The Electoral Legislative Package, approved with 189 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions, MPLA deputy, Virgílio Tyova, said that the diploma is not to please political parties, but for the good of democracy in the country.
UNITA deputy Mihaela Webba said in her party’s vote declaration that the changes made to the Electoral Legislative Package are for a legal framework that generates some confidence in the country’s electoral contests.
The President of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, said that the consensus reached in the debate on the Electoral Legislative Package is a great example in the Angolan Parliament and argues that this spirit should prevail in future legislation.
The changes adopted include editorial adjustments, the deletion of articles, clarification of deadlines, rules for electoral observers, increased transparency in the process of drawing lists and the introduction of provisions to ensure greater clarity in the polling station minutes.
To reaffirm the consensus, the Joint Opinion Reports (RPC) relating to the proposals and draft laws amending the Organic Law on General Elections, the Official Electoral Register and the Organic Law of the National Electoral Commission, were approved unanimously with 45 votes, thus concluding the stage of assessment of these diplomas in detail.
The president of the 1st Committee of the National Assembly, deputy António Paulo (MPLA), who led the work, praised the parliamentary groups, which made the consensus possible and hopes that this stance will be repeated on Wednesday, the 13th, the day on which the diploma goes to the final global vote.
The composition of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), in which UNITA contested the way in which the 17 commissioners that make up this body were distributed, claiming that the MPLA had an excessive majority of nine members, a consensus was reached during the discussion of the commissions.
To this end, the two parties concluded that there would be three accredited national electoral observers, who will attend the plenary meetings of this body, especially in the period from the start of the electoral campaign until the publication of the final results.
These observers will be appointed from among themselves, in accordance with current legislation, and aim to reinforce the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
During the debate on the specifics, the deputies agreed to create a new chapter on the structure and personnel of the CNE, including contractual management positions, based on applicable legislation.
The responsibilities of the National Electoral Commission were adjusted, with the transfer of some specific responsibilities to the plenary, ensuring greater coherence and transparency in its internal operations.
Members of Parliament also approved provisions that strengthen access for commissioners, representatives, permanent assistants and observers to counting and dispatch centers, ensuring their presence from the beginning of election observation until the official publication of the results.
During the discussion on the specifics of the Electoral Legislative Package, the proposed Law to Amend the Organic Law on General Elections, initiated by the Executive and UNITA, reached consensus on 11 fundamental aspects, considered “controversial”, with the highlight being the withdrawal of the summary minutes, keeping only the table minutes.
They concluded that a copy of the audit report will be made available to the candidates’ representatives.
The agreement also states that the minutes of the meeting will be signed and stamped by the chairmen of the tables and list delegates and copies will be given to them.
As agreed, a copy of the polling station minutes will be posted at the polling station location, signed and stamped by the chairman of the polling station assembly.
The MPLA and UNITA also agreed that polling stations will have two electoral registers, one for consultation and monitoring by list delegates and another for polling station staff. NJ
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