The Preparatory Committee of the 5th Ordinary Congress of the PSO (Angolan opposition) decided to recognize the provisional candidacy of Zapalo António for the post of party president after he complained to the Constitutional Court about “obstacles and violations.”
The information was conveyed this Friday by the commission’s coordinator, Dondi Vieira, who noted that only two candidates for the post of president of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) should compete for the conclave, which has been postponed to October 1, 2 and 3.
“This discussion follows the decision of the National Committee taken on August 20, 2024,” the person in charge said at a press conference in Luanda.
Benedito Daniel, the party’s deputy and outgoing president, and Zapalo António, initially excluded from the race after an internal suspension but now readmitted after an appeal to the Constitutional Court of Angola (CCA), are vying for the party’s leadership.
Dondi Vieira said there was “no reason” for Zapalo Antonio – a founding member of the party who called for the congress to be withdrawn – not to run for PRS leader.
The preliminary candidacy of Gaspar Fernandes (youth leader of the PRS), coordinator of the preparatory committee of the 5th Ordinary Congress of Social Renewal, was rejected, he stressed, because he did not have 15 years of activity in the party.
According to the person in charge, the actions of the preparatory committee are carried out in accordance with the law and the party charter.
“It was concluded that the preparatory commission is legal and has the competence to carry out preparatory actions for the 5th Congress in accordance with the principles of the Constitutional Court,” he assured.
The Social Renewal Conclave was originally scheduled for April 2, 3 and 4, but was suspended after the TC took precautionary measures against Zapalo Antonio, who was suspended from running in the party leadership elections due to “irregularities.”
The plenary session of the judges of the Angolan TC in March agreed to adopt a preventive measure and, as a consequence, to order the PSO to refrain from holding the announced V Ordinary Congress “until the trial of the main case takes place.”
Zapalo Antonio stated that there are “serious violations, first of all, in the way in which the acts leading to the holding of the 5th Ordinary Congress are being carried out.”
This Friday, Dondi Vieira insisted that the postponement of the congress and the calendar of events until October be carried out within the timeframe provided by law and sent to the TC after discussion by the National Committee of the party.
The calendar of events for the congress on October 1, 2 and 3 includes dates for the presidential candidates’ election campaign (August 25 to September 24), a meeting of the National Secretariat to prepare documents for the congress (September 27), and a meeting of the Political Council (September 28) to consider documents for the 5th congress.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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