Luanda: MPLA leader João Lourenço assured Monday (29), the creation of more jobs for young people and more entrepreneurship opportunities.
In the statement he made at the party’s headquarters, in Luanda, in the presence of his main collaborators, João Lourenço clarified that the trust placed in the MPLA carries the enormous responsibility of promoting dialogue and consultation with the different civil society partners.
President of all Angolans
João Lourenço promised to be the President of all Angolans, pledging the commitment to work continuously so that Angola become a great economy, a great democracy and a society where all Angolans have the same opportunities to develop their talents and skills.
We have heard and correctly interpreted the grievances of the people and the youth, to whom we will pay special attention, expressed the President re-elected for the 2022-2027 term.
João Lourenço noted that, with this vote of confidence that the Angolans have given to the MPLA, "it is time for us to continue to carry out a set of investments and necessary reforms to turn Angola into a more prosperous, developed and innovative country, giving all Angolans the future they aspire to and deserve.
"Let us unite in a new spirit of patriotism and responsibility where each one of us will contribute to a more just society", he expressed.
He noted that the victory represented a commitment by the Angolans on the MPLA’s programme, focused on diversifying of economy, creation of jobs, staff training, reinforcement of the education system, upgrading of the public service administration, decentralisation of the State, expansion of health services and that of sanitation.
He said the MPLA's victory in this election means "an Executive that undertakes its commitments with courage and responsibility, which is not afraid of putting an end to established powers and make the necessary changes".
In this regard, he assured that the Executive will not give up the fight for more efficiency transparency of state institutions and will not stop trying in the face of difficulties, "always seeking to ensure more development and progress for Angola and for Angolans”.
Absolute majority ensures to govern with stability
João Lourenço, who was flanked by the future Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança Costa, clarified that the victory achieved by his party (absolute majority) will enable him to govern with stability without the need to form alliances.
He assured that the sovereign will of the Angolan people, through the voters who exercised their right at the polls, has just given the MPLA the legitimacy to govern in the 2022-2027 term.
He recalled that, in the case of general elections, this mandate, which belongs to the sovereign people, grants the MPLA the constitutional right and obligation of investing its candidate in the role of the President of the Republic of Angola, form the Executive branch by appointing ministers, secretaries of state, governors of the country’s 18 provinces and municipal administrators.
Satisfaction with the results
At the press conference, the MPLA leader expressed his satisfaction with the results obtained in the elections of 24 August, despite his party having lost votes in Luanda, the country's main electoral stronghold.
"I am pleased with the result that the Angolan voters wanted to confer on the MPLA and its candidate for President of the Republic. Therefore, we respect the will of the people", he stressed.
According to the MPLA leader, what was at stake in these elections was not the provincial, municipal and much less the local elections.
"What was in dispute was the place of President of the Republic and the seats in the Parliament. We got 124 seats, which guarantee us an absolute majority, enough to govern with stability".
He thanked the Angolans for the trust they placed in the MPLA and its candidate, "to continue working on the social and economic development of the country and the well-being of Angolans".
Exemplar Elections
President João Lourenço also thanked all Angolans who participated in these elections in an exemplary way and those who ensured the operation of polling stations throughout the national territory "and made possible this party of democracy" .
The recognition was extended to the CNE, which ensured the electoral process, as well as the international observers who monitored the voting process and witnessed these elections being held.
Freedom of the press
João Lourenço acknowledged, on the occasion, that the national and foreign press had complete freedom of movement and access to information in the August 24 general elections.
"For all these reasons, the level of organisation, the massive presence of observers and free media coverage, the international community recognizes these elections as having been free, fair and transparent," said the MPLA leader, considering a victory for Angola and the Angolans.
Definitive results
The final results of the fifth general elections confirmed the victory of the MPLA and its candidate, João Lourenço, with 51.17 percent of votes.
According to the president of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Manuel Pereira da Silva, this results from a total of 3,209,429 votes.
UNITA 43,95% (2.756.786 votes, winning 90 MPs) and PRS with 1,14% (71,351 votes, 2 MPs), FNLA 1,06% (66,337 votes, 2 MPs) and PHA with 1,02% (63,749 votes, 2 MPs), CASA-CE with 0.76% (47,446 votes), APN with 0.48%(30,139 votes) and P-NJANGO with 0.42% (26,867 votes), the last three did not get any MPs.
Eight political forces ran in this suffrage which has as total number of voters 6.454,109, representing 44.82% of roughly 14.3 million registered voters.
