ANGOLA: BRIEFS FROM THE ELECTION (3)

• The observing mission of the Pan-African Parliament declared the Angolan elections “generally free and fair” in spite of some observed “insufficiencies”. A similar assessment was made by the observers from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) who called the elections “free and transparent”. However, Portuguese observers are divided in their conclusions: while MEP Ana Gomes questions the process pointing to some failings in the electoral registrars and the non-accreditation of some organisations, another Portuguese observer, Jose’ Nobrega Ascenso, stated that “there were failings but they were not enough to question the entire election process.” Such divergences notwithstanding, the Portuguese government praised the “civic and tranquil” way in which the elections took place.

• Meanwhile, the CNE started to release some preliminary results at the national level. At midday Sunday, they looked like this: MPLA - 2.806.027 (81,67%), UNITA - 364.179 (10,60%), PRS - 102.353 (2,98%), ND - 39.122 (1,14%), PLD - 11.130 (0,32%), FNLA - 40.047 (1,17%), PAJOCA - 8.109 (0,24%), PDP-ANA - 17.668 (0,51%), AD Coligação - 9.442 (0,27%), PADEPA - 9.012 (0,26%), FpD - 8.686 (0,25%), PRD - 7.270 (0,21%), PPE - 6.197 (0,18%), FOFAC - 6.607 (0,19%).

• On his side, the leader of the opposition, Isaias Samakuva declared that “it’s not the right time to accept provisional results of these legislatives due to the lack of credibility of the electoral process.”

UPDATE (08 SEP 08)

• The CNE did not give legal provision to UNITA's impugnation submission on the grounds of "lack of elements of proof for its allegations."

• UNITA seems to have accepted CNE's decision, as its leader, Isaias Samakuva, congratulated the MPLA for its victory. Ngola Kabango, the leader of the FNLA (traditionally the third main party, now replaced by the PRS in that position) did the same.

• The head of the EU observers, Luisa Morgantini, declared the elections "transparent" and stated that her mission "will not invalidate the electoral process."

• The observing mission of the Pan-African Parliament declared the Angolan elections “generally free and fair” in spite of some observed “insufficiencies”. A similar assessment was made by the observers from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) who called the elections “free and transparent”. However, Portuguese observers are divided in their conclusions: while MEP Ana Gomes questions the process pointing to some failings in the electoral registrars and the non-accreditation of some organisations, another Portuguese observer, Jose’ Nobrega Ascenso, stated that “there were failings but they were not enough to question the entire election process.” Such divergences notwithstanding, the Portuguese government praised the “civic and tranquil” way in which the elections took place.

• Meanwhile, the CNE started to release some preliminary results at the national level. At midday Sunday, they looked like this: MPLA - 2.806.027 (81,67%), UNITA - 364.179 (10,60%), PRS - 102.353 (2,98%), ND - 39.122 (1,14%), PLD - 11.130 (0,32%), FNLA - 40.047 (1,17%), PAJOCA - 8.109 (0,24%), PDP-ANA - 17.668 (0,51%), AD Coligação - 9.442 (0,27%), PADEPA - 9.012 (0,26%), FpD - 8.686 (0,25%), PRD - 7.270 (0,21%), PPE - 6.197 (0,18%), FOFAC - 6.607 (0,19%).

• On his side, the leader of the opposition, Isaias Samakuva declared that “it’s not the right time to accept provisional results of these legislatives due to the lack of credibility of the electoral process.”

UPDATE (08 SEP 08)

• The CNE did not give legal provision to UNITA's impugnation submission on the grounds of "lack of elements of proof for its allegations."

• UNITA seems to have accepted CNE's decision, as its leader, Isaias Samakuva, congratulated the MPLA for its victory. Ngola Kabango, the leader of the FNLA (traditionally the third main party, now replaced by the PRS in that position) did the same.

• The head of the EU observers, Luisa Morgantini, declared the elections "transparent" and stated that her mission "will not invalidate the electoral process."