Luanda - The specialized committees of the National Assembly approved on Thursday, in Luanda, a resolution that proposes the definitive loss of the mandate of the deputy of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) Alberto José Catenda, following a disciplinary process initiated against the parliamentarian.
The deputy is accused of renting to third parties the vehicle assigned to him by the National Assembly for protocol services and support for his residence. The vehicle is currently missing.
The Mandates, Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum, as well as the Constitutional and Legal Affairs committees of the National Assembly assessed the aforementioned case within a period of ten days, giving the deputy the possibility of defending himself in the disciplinary process.
On the matter, the chairman of the Committee on Mandates, Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum, Sérgio Leonardo Vaz, said that Alberto José Catenda's action violates ethics.
He further explained that due to the seriousness of the problem, the commissions proposed the loss of mandate as established by the internal regulations.
“There was a commission created for this purpose that worked, collected evidence, brought together all those involved and opened the opportunity to defend the deputy who, in turn, presented his arguments. A whole procedure that characterizes the disciplinary process was carried out”, he clarified.
He explained that for a parliamentarian to lose his mandate, approval from the majority of deputies in the plenary session would be necessary, adding that the Committee on Mandates, Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum will continue to work to avoid these types of problems that tarnish this class.
The specialized committee approved the resolution unanimously, with no abstentions or votes against, and it will subsequently be submitted to the plenary of the National Assembly, which is scheduled for the 22nd of this month for a final vote.
The rental of resources allocated by the National Assembly violates the principles, duties and regulatory rules of this institution.
With the accused deputy's response, the committees met and maintained the accusations due to the existence of evidence against the deputy.
Deputy Alberto José Catenda is part of the list of members of the Cuanza Norte Provincial Electoral Ward through the UNITA Party.
AMC/OHA/MRA/jmc
