MPLA declares election victory
Party claims it has won two-thirds majority in Angolan poll but main opposition Unita says its tallies show no sweeping win
Luanda — Angola’s governing party, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), said it was on track to win a two-thirds parliamentary majority, based on its own numbers, as votes were still being tallied ahead of an expected release of results later on Thursday. Angola held a smooth election on Wednesday, with the MPLA’s former defence minister, Joao Lourenco, expected to be voted in as the first new president in 38 years. In Angola, political parties are allowed to observe the elections by posting party members at every polling station, and by assimilating results, the parties attempt to foretell the outcome. The MPLA calculated that after 5-million votes had been checked it was on course for a two-thirds majority, said João Martins, party secretary for political and electoral affairs. "We can affirm that the future president will be comrade João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço," Martins said. However, the main opposition, National Union for the Total Independence of Angol...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.