Angola - direct presidential polls abolished

President the winner as Angola approves constitution

Article published on the 2010-01-21 Latest update 2010-01-21 14:49 TU

Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos
(Photo: Reuters)

Angola's parliament has approved its first-ever constitution, which abolishes direct presidential elections. The move cements the power of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled Africa's top oil producer for 30 years.

The charter passed with 186 votes in the 220-seat parliament, announced Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, president of the National Assembly.

"Today is a day of victory and happiness for the people of Angola. Long live the Angolan people," he said.

But the session was boycotted by the main opposition Unita party, which claimed the constitutional process was flawed and undermines democracy.

Edward George, of the Economist Intelligence Unit, told RFI there was little the opposition could do to stop the new constitution from coming into effect in March.

 

"The system was not dissimilar to that of Britain ... There is now no longer a need for a separate presidential election. So the only election dos Santos will have to face is an election from within his own party," George said.

"The new constitution is a recognition of what has been the reality for a long time in Angola - which is that the President is the head of the government and the head of the country."

The document, which replaces an interim constitutional law in effect since independence from Portugal in 1975, still needs approval from the Constitutional Court and Dos Santos.

The new system suggests that Angolans will not vote again until 2012, when the current legislative session comes to an end.