The president of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) said on Friday that he never spoke of electoral fraud but derogation from the laws, and accused Angolan courts of evading justice.
Adalberto da Costa Júnior, who this Friday takes the place of the deputy elected by the largest Angolan opposition party, told reporters upon arrival at the National Assembly that he hopes this legislature will comply with the will of the Angolans.
“What we hope is that whoever it is – MPLA, UNITA or other parties – will have the courage to return sovereignty to whoever has it, the people, who have left a very clear message about their will.”said the political leader.
UNITA was defeated in the August 24 general election, but won the largest number of seats ever, electing 90 deputies, while the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a party in power since independence in 1975, won the number of seats from 150 to 124.
“Angolans have shown in these elections that they want to change the regime, that they want reforms, that development can only take place in freedom and with an independent judiciary, with the municipalities and the local power”noted the president of UNITA, hoping “an Angola less supporter of more integration and more development”.
On the other hand, he insisted that UNITA participate in elections “which were not correct were not transparent” which, he claimed, was confirmed by the “international observers who were here for the first time, including Africans who… […] did not find the elections free, fair and transparent”.
“Since the pre-campaign period, we have always talked about deviation from the laws, disrespect for the constitution, we have never talked about fraud, we have talked about evidence. Unfortunately, Angolan courts are fleeing justice and justice “said Adalberto da Costa Junior.
“It is important that Angolan journalists know this, that the observers’ reports understood that these elections were marked by violations of the law, to that extent we cannot reward deviation from the law”added the leader of the “Black Rooster”
He also justified that the inauguration of UNITA delegates – which was not by mutual consent of the party and its civil society supporters – is due to their responsibility to “Make our contribution to bring Angola to full democracy and the democratic rule of law”.
Turning to UNITA’s priorities in this legislature, to respond to the challenges of reform, the leader was emphatic: “we need to revise the constitution, we need the direct election of the president of the republic and not slow down local power”.
Source: DN
