Africa-Press – Angola. For the analyst, a third presidential term for João Lourenço would not be possible because the MPLA would need the opposition to change the Constitution – something unlikely.
In Angola, several candidates are preparing to succeed João Lourenço as head of the MPLA and, above all, as President of the Republic.
One of them is General Higino Carneiro, perhaps João Lourenço’s least desired candidate. The president of the ruling party will have other preferences, say commentators and observers interviewed by DW.
There are those who claim that João Lourenço is considering putting his own wife into the race. And there are also those who claim that the President of Angola’s greatest wish would be to run for a third term himself, and for that to happen he would have to change the Constitution.
But this last hypothesis is not very likely, since João Lourenço does not have enough support in Parliament to change the basic law of the Republic of Angola.
In an interview with DW, Agostinho Sikatu, director of the Center for Debates and Academic Studies, an Angolan non-governmental organization dedicated precisely to promoting political debate and strengthening democracy in the country, says that names such as the Minister of State and Chief of Staff, Adão de Almeida; the Minister of the Interior, Manuel Homem; the vice-president of the MPLA, Mara Quiosa and even the President’s own wife, Ana Dias Lourenço, are on João Lourenco’s list of favorites to succeed him.
DW Africa: João Lourenço and the MPLA face major challenges. What are they specifically?
Agostinho Sikatu (AS): The MPLA has two challenges. The first is the generational transition. Therefore, it needs to make the transition from one generation to another. And the other challenge is maintaining power. Therefore, these are two challenges that the MPLA faces at this time.
DW Africa: There are several people who have already positioned themselves to succeed João Lourenço. I am referring to General Higino Carneiro, for example. What is there to say about this person?
(AS): There are, in fact, several candidates. The President himself has also shown that he has a preference for some over others.
DW Africa: And what, in fact, are João Lourenço’s preferences, can you give us any names?
(AS): It is clear that the current Minister of State and Chief of Staff, Adão de Almeida, is preparing him. But at the same time, there is another figure who has been standing out, which is the current Minister of the Interior, Manuel Homem. In addition to him, another lady has recently emerged, who is the current vice-president of the MPLA, therefore, Mara Quiosa. Some say that he can even bet on his own wife, Ana Dias Lourenço. So the game is still up in the air.
DW Africa: Returning to General Higino Carneiro, he is the candidate who has been most prominent, let’s say. And is he a candidate who will not please the current President João Lourenço?
(AS): Regarding Higino Carneiro, he is one of the figures who has some representation within the MPLA itself. He is one of those figures who represents a group that feels orphaned by José Eduardo dos Santos. Therefore, he wants to restore the previous wing of the military, that group of the most conservative militants within the MPLA itself. This is where he clashes with the current president of the MPLA, who has already shown by all the facts that he does not want Higino Carneiro to be his replacement. Therefore, he has shown that he prefers someone other than Higino Carneiro.
DW Africa: Is there still a chance that João Lourenço will run for President of the Republic again? Is this a possibility, in theory and in practice?
(AS): In theory, there is always the possibility. Because in Africa, unfortunately, when leaders want to stay in power, they use an important instrument, which is to change the Constitution. Therefore, in theory, the possibility for President João Lourenço to run for a third term would necessarily involve a constitutional change – which at this point, from the point of view of the political calendar, is almost unavailable. Because the opposition currently has a larger representation, the MPLA itself cannot change the Constitution. Therefore, it would need some of the MPs from the opposition parties. This is what makes this intention, in practice, fall apart.
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