Four national commissioners of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Angola denounced this Saturday “political use” of the act with the provisional results of the vote and restrictions in the tabulation center, admitting not to sign the final act.
The four national commissioners appointed by the president of the National Assembly called a press conference to present their complaints, but refused to reveal their party, underlining, in the words of Maria Pascoal, wanting to “fulfill the fundamental duty of informing Angolans in matters related to the electoral process and, fundamentally, to the provisional electoral results”.
The CNE is made up of 17 members, a judicial magistrate, who chairs it, and sixteen citizens appointed by the National Assembly, by an absolute majority of the Deputies in force, at the proposal of the parties with parliamentary seats.
Commissioner Maria Pascoal pointed to the “constant violations of the law” and stated that the CNE could have made the fifth Angolan elections, held on Wednesday, a “true day of celebration” that would result in the satisfaction of citizens and voters, with with a view to providing an electoral environment in accordance with the will of the people, which did not happen.
Among the violations, he pointed out the fact that entities outside the law are at the center of the CNE’s scrutiny, and the restrictions on access and full exercise of the powers of the national commissioners, which have been exercised by a restricted group of national commissioners appointed by the president of the CNE. , as only five of the 17 members were able to tabulate the results.
He also indicated that the commissioners expressed their dissatisfaction “for the fact that the provisional results made public have been the object of political exploitation, since the process of computation and final scrutiny is still ongoing.”
Contrary to what was supposed, null and blank votes were not considered, so the commissioners who signed the statement presented to the press today disassociated themselves from the record of provisional results.
The commissioners also questioned the electoral observation regulations, a debate that “was not accepted [pela CNE] followed by a threat of disciplinary proceedings against the subscribers and their return to the National Assembly and expulsion from this body,” said the commissioner.
“We distance ourselves from all acts that seek to subvert the law and the right and that compromise the seriousness of the electoral process and put at risk the sovereign will of the voters with whom the CNE must commit to providing a better service in these elections,” he lamented. Maria Pascual.
Commissioner Domingos Inácio Francisco confirmed that the record of the provisional results was signed by all, but said that they signed the document with a view to discussing and deliberating on votes and null and blank.
“Unfortunately, this record of provisional results did not receive treatment in accordance with the law, since the exercise of powers was transferred to a small group of five members to determine the electoral results. We do not participate in the tabulation process”, he criticized, reaffirming that the minutes with the provisional results are being “used politically”.
The commissioner said that the complaints were made before the press conference, through exhibitions that did not receive a response.
“In principle we are not going to sign the minutes with the final results, we are going to wait,” Domingos Francisco told reporters, adding that the commissioners hope to find a solution to what is happening and that the CNE services “must be directed to the country, and not to any political party.”
According to data released by the CNE, when 97.03% of the votes were counted in the elections held last Wednesday, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA, in power since 1975) obtained 3,162,801 votes, less one million ballots counted. in 2017, when he received 4,115,302 votes.
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) registered a large increase, electing deputies in 17 of the 18 provinces and obtaining a historic victory in Luanda, the largest province in the country, obtaining so far 2,727,885 votes, while in 2017 it obtained 1,800,860 favorable newsletters.
However, UNITA leader Adalberto Costa Júnior questioned the MPLA’s victory on Friday and asked that an international commission compare the party’s electoral records with those of the CNE.
Follow our live blog of the Angolan elections.
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Source: Observadora
