Africa-Press – Angola. The ruling MPLA urged the Angolan government to step up efforts to curb the rise in the price of basic food and to ensure market stabilization policies to reduce the impact of measures such as the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to the president of the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA, in power since 1975), Reis Júnior, the “disruptions in international markets” have exacerbated the difficulties of Angolan families, imposing new challenges on the country’s economic and social stability.
“In light of this scenario, it is imperative to reaffirm the need for public policies adapted to the new situation and focused on social protection and family income, controlling inflation, and ensuring access to essential goods.
This is the way to defend the well-being of Angolans and ensure the resilience of our economy in the face of external upheavals,” said the deputy.
Reis Júnior, who was presenting his party’s political declaration at today’s plenary meeting, urged the Angolan government to continue strengthening measures to curb the exponential rise in basic food prices. He also called for “compliance with market stabilization and regulation policies to reduce the impact of structural measures, such as the gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidies.”
Rising fuel prices, public transport fares, private school tuition fees, and water and electricity tariffs have generated a wave of protests in Angolan society in recent days, with demonstrations of rejection of government measures.
The politician also condemned all acts of intolerance and political violence in the country, guaranteeing that his party “is, and will continue to be, an uncompromising defender of the right to difference, freedom of expression and political pluralism.”
He assured that the MPLA does not and will not condone acts that threaten peaceful coexistence among Angolans, regretting, however, that the country’s recent history, “which cannot be erased or silenced, [has] left traces of this evil.”
“Therefore, let us all build true reconciliation with empathy and political responsibility,” he appealed, noting that “frivolous accusations,” direct or indirect, without evidence or substance, launched against the MPLA or the Angolan state, “do not serve peace or democracy.”
Regarding domestic politics, the MPLA parliamentary leader accused the president of UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, the largest opposition party), Adalberto Costa Júnior, of lying when he claimed that he had received a letter from the MPLA in which the party had refused to discuss the electoral legislative package.
“It’s important for Angolans to know the truth: this letter wasn’t published because the UNITA president lied. In reality, the MPLA parliamentary group clearly reaffirmed in this letter its full willingness to build consensus within the legislative process,” he argued.
Júnior also criticized the UNITA leader for publicly stating that Angola had bought the presidency of the African Union (AU), which has been held since last February by Angolan President João Lourenço.
He noted that Costa Júnior’s statement, “in addition to demonstrating his lack of knowledge of the rules that govern the organization and functioning” of the AU, constitutes “a great lack of respect for that prestigious institution, which fights for the noblest causes of Africa and its peoples.”
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