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ANGOLA: President’s Powers Strengthened

ANGOLA: President’s Powers Strengthened The country’s first constitution establishes three tiers of government. According to the Angolan news agency Angop , parliament on January 21st approved the country’s first constitution, which will come into force once promulgated by the Head of State. The document also has to go to the Constitutional Court for appraisal, although these moves are seen as formalities. Angop also revealed that the new Constitution was approved with 186 votes in favour, two abstentions, and none against. PANA, Luanda (20/1) says that the new constitution comprises 244 provisions, most of which were amended after input from members of the public and institutions. It establishes three tiers of government: the presidency and the legislature, which will be by election, as well as the judiciary. Under the new constitution, the president shall be the leader of the ruling part or of a coalition of parties if necessary. He or she will be the Head of Government and Commander‐in‐Chief of the Angola Armed Forces, and will be assisted by a Vice President. As AFP (21/1) notes, the charter cements the power of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos , who has ruled Africa’s top oil producer for 30 years. It replaces an interim constitutional law in effect in the southern African country since independence from Portugal in 1975. Its 244 articles set out how the country is to be governed and defines the rights of citizens, but notably strengthens of the powers of the president. Under the new system, the president will be chosen by the winning party in parliamentary elections, which suggests that Angolans will not vote again until 2012, when the current legislative session comes to an end. Dos Santos will choose his own vice president, who would operate as a prime minister with a hands‐on role in the government. The post of prime minister has been removed. Parliament can call for the president to be removed from office, but such a motion must be referred to the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the president. The charter also clarifies currently ambiguous land rights in Angola, stating that all land is owned by the state, which decides who can use it. Bornito de Sousa , an MPLA lawmaker who headed the constitutional commission, told parliament the charter was “a reflection of equality, of good sense, and true representation of the electorate”. But on January 20th, the opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola ( UNITA ) walked out of parliament and boycotted the final vote. “We walked out because we didn’t want to be part of this constitution which is a complete fraud”, UNITA parliamentarian Raul Danda told AFP . “This is a very sad day for democracy in Angola and that’s why we are all wearing black, because it’s like going to the graveyard to bury democracy.” (Sources as referenced in text) MPLA congress Vol. 46 p. 18221B http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series Wiley

ANGOLA: President’s Powers Strengthened

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2010
ISSN
0001-9844
eISSN
1467-825X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-825X.2010.03063.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The country’s first constitution establishes three tiers of government. According to the Angolan news agency Angop , parliament on January 21st approved the country’s first constitution, which will come into force once promulgated by the Head of State. The document also has to go to the Constitutional Court for appraisal, although these moves are seen as formalities. Angop also revealed that the new Constitution was approved with 186 votes in favour, two abstentions, and none against. PANA, Luanda (20/1) says that the new constitution comprises 244 provisions, most of which were amended after input from members of the public and institutions. It establishes three tiers of government: the presidency and the legislature, which will be by election, as well as the judiciary. Under the new constitution, the president shall be the leader of the ruling part or of a coalition of parties if necessary. He or she will be the Head of Government and Commander‐in‐Chief of the Angola Armed Forces, and will be assisted by a Vice President. As AFP (21/1) notes, the charter cements the power of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos , who has ruled Africa’s top oil producer for 30 years. It replaces an interim constitutional law in effect in the southern African country since independence from Portugal in 1975. Its 244 articles set out how the country is to be governed and defines the rights of citizens, but notably strengthens of the powers of the president. Under the new system, the president will be chosen by the winning party in parliamentary elections, which suggests that Angolans will not vote again until 2012, when the current legislative session comes to an end. Dos Santos will choose his own vice president, who would operate as a prime minister with a hands‐on role in the government. The post of prime minister has been removed. Parliament can call for the president to be removed from office, but such a motion must be referred to the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the president. The charter also clarifies currently ambiguous land rights in Angola, stating that all land is owned by the state, which decides who can use it. Bornito de Sousa , an MPLA lawmaker who headed the constitutional commission, told parliament the charter was “a reflection of equality, of good sense, and true representation of the electorate”. But on January 20th, the opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola ( UNITA ) walked out of parliament and boycotted the final vote. “We walked out because we didn’t want to be part of this constitution which is a complete fraud”, UNITA parliamentarian Raul Danda told AFP . “This is a very sad day for democracy in Angola and that’s why we are all wearing black, because it’s like going to the graveyard to bury democracy.” (Sources as referenced in text) MPLA congress Vol. 46 p. 18221B

Journal

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series – Wiley

Published: Feb 1, 2010

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