Luanda - The MPLA on Monday approved the nomination of biologist Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa as a candidate for Vice President of the Republic in the next August general elections.
At a meeting of the Central Committee, preceded by another meeting of the Political Bureau, Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa, currently secretary of State for Fisheries, was approved as a candidate for the August general elections.
Bornito de Sousa, the current Vice-President of the Republic, did not rerun for the post, at his own request, according to explanations from party leader João Lourenço.
At the extraordinary meeting of the Central Committee, there was also consensus on the name of Carolina Cerqueira as candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly.
The approved list, to be submitted to the Constitutional Court, includes about 360 candidates for the National Assembly, obeying, according to the party leader, the necessary gender balance and a significant representation of young cadres.
The Central Committee was informed of the draft Government Programme and the MPLA's Electoral Manifesto, referring its approval to its extraordinary session to be held on 2 June this year.
The Central Committee members encouraged the MPLA President to continue the spirit of "correcting what is wrong, improving what is right", reinforced with the primacy that MPLA is the people's strength.
The Central Committee welcomed the results achieved in the materialisation of the 2017/2022 National Development Plan as well as several programmes of a socio-economic nature, which are improving the living conditions of the people, and reflect substantial contributions to the sustainable development of the country.
