Luanda - The Plenary of the National Assembly (AN) on Saturday rejected the process of initiating the indictment and dismissal of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, formalized by the UNITA Parliamentary Group.
The Plenary voted not to create an Ad Hoc Commission on the Process of Impeachment and Dismissal of the President of the Republic', signed by 90 Members of the Parliament from UNITA Parliamentary Group, which was supposed to prepare an opinion report to continue the process.
The Extraordinary Plenary Meeting of the 2nd Legislative Session of the Fifth Legislature of the National Assembly complied with Article 42(c) in conjunction with Article 44 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.
UNITA's initiative was rejected with 123 votes against (MPLA and PHA) and one abstention from the PRS.
UNITA, the proponent of the initiative, did not participate in the voting process due to alleged procedural irregularities.
The extraordinary plenary session took place in an atmosphere of great tension.
In this regard, the first secretary of the Bureau of the National Assembly, Manuel Lopes Dembo, regretted the attitude of the UNITA’s Parliamentary Group members, for the non-observance of ethics and decorum.
“We must base our actions on a deep link to the Constitution, the regulation and parliamentary ethics”, Manuel Lopes Dembo said.
According to the parliamentarian, UNITA’s Parliamentary Group members have duties and obligations and not just rights “as they seek to claim, so he calls on to the sense of State and respect for the democratic rules enshrined in the Constitution.
Phases of the process
In the light of Rule 284 of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, the initiative in the process of impeachment and dismissal of the President of the Republic is the responsibility of the National Assembly, and the Proposal for initiative is presented by 1/3 of the Members in full exercise of their functions.
Upon receipt of the proposal to initiate the process of indictment and dismissal of the President of the Republic, the plenary of the National Assembly meets as a matter of urgency and creates, by an absolute majority of the deputies in full exercise of their functions, an Ad Hoc Committee, in order to prepare the report and opinion on the matter, within the deadline set for it.
The composition of the Ad Hoc Committee, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, must comply with the rules of proportional representation.
Once the Opinion Report on the process of indictment and dismissal of the President of the Republic has been concluded, the Speaker of the National Assembly convenes an Extraordinary Plenary Meeting, within 72 hours, to pronounce on the matter.
Once the Opinion Report has been discussed, the Plenary approves the resolution on the matter by a majority of 2/3 of the deputies in full exercise of their functions, and the respective communication or petition for procedure must therefore be sent to the Supreme Court or Constitutional Court, as the case may be.
In the light of Article 129 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic can only be removed from office for crimes of treason and espionage, for crimes of bribery, embezzlement and for permanent incapacity to continue to exercise office.
João Lourenço is serving his second term, legitimized by the victory of his party (MPLA) in the 2022 general elections, by an absolute majority. DC/VM/DOJ
