“ANGOLAN SECOND LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS A STEP TOWARDS THE CONSOLIDATION OF A MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY, A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT FOR PEACE, STABILITY, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”

Washington, DC. 09/17 - The world witnessed and applauded the civility and peaceful spirit showed by the Angolan citizens during the political campaign and legislative poll held September 5, 2008.

The National Electoral Commission (CNE) released September 16, 2008 the final results of the second legislative elections held in Angola since 1992. The chairman of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Caetano de Sousa, expressed satisfaction in the 2008 electoral process and considered it a positive achievement, 16 years after the last polls.

The high turnout at polling stations was recorded at 7. 213.146 million voters to elect two hundred twenty (220) parliamentarians. Countrywide, over 50.000 voting precinct were organized and stated by 260.000 electoral agents.

National participation stood at 87.86 percent of registered voters, and is a clear sign that the current political trend is one of trust in a more democratic Angola where citizens are able to carryout their civic democratic duty. The electoral campaign took place throughout the country under equal conditions for all candidates. Political parties had the moral, social and political duty to campaign in a manner to encourage peace and stability and accept the outcome of the vote.

The final results of the polls showed that Angola's current ruling MPLA party claimed 81.64 of the popular vote and 191 seats in the National Assembly. The major opposition party, UNITA, received 10.39 of the vote and sixteen seats. The party for Social Renovation, PRS was in third place with 3.17 percent and a total of eight seats in the Parliament. FNLA with1.11 percent and a total of three seats. The New Democracy-Coalition with 1.20 percent and two seats.

The last election in 1992 sparked the second phase of the country's 27-year civil war, which ended in 2002. This year in a peaceful environment, the Angolan citizens engaged seriously in all electoral process and have accepted the results of 5 September.

Angola's ability to stand as a united nation supporting the well being of its citizens was evident during the entire electoral process. Addressing the ceremony of releasing the final results of September 5th legislative elections, Caetano de Sousa scored that, the stigma of war, while a phenomenon associated with the elections ended up being banished. We turned the page of uncertainty, he said.

Ten political parties and four coalitions were each allowed five minutes on television and ten minutes of radio time per day for campaigning. There were also programs on television, each lasting an hour, devoted to discussing the government's accomplishments in a positive light.Voters were informed of the party platforms outlined by each competing party and had the opportunity to freely analyze and make their own decision.

On June 4, 2008 President José Eduardo dos Santos officially called legislative elections to be held on September 5th. Latter, in his speech to the nation on the occasion of the opening of the electoral campaign on August 5th, President Dos Santos emphasized the importance of the second legislative elections that represented an unprecedented opportunity for the normalization of the national institutional political scene, as well as for the improvement of the democratic rule of law.
Achieving peace in 2002 created a new perspective for Angola. The country moved forward normalizing state institutions, the performance of the government agencies, and meeting collective basic needs while respecting the dignity of all.
The climate of peace allowed the Angolan family to come together again, and achieve national reconciliation now a point of pride for our nation. During six years of peace the government worked hard in rebuilding and developing the country virtually destroyed by the civil war.

National and international observers from the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), European Union (EU), and the USA, unanimously considered the poll "fair, credible, peaceful and transparent”. The results reflect the maturity and civility with which the Angolan people desire to choose their leaders.

Issued by:
Press Office
Embassy of Angola to the USA
2108 16th ST, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
 

(For further information, please log on to www.cne.ao)