Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUANDA564
2008-07-24 19:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:
14 PARTIES APPROVED TO RUN IN LEGISLATIVE RACE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLU #0564 2061911 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241911Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4915 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS LUANDA 000564
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO
SUBJECT: 14 PARTIES APPROVED TO RUN IN LEGISLATIVE RACE
REF: LUANDA 0535
UNCLAS LUANDA 000564
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO
SUBJECT: 14 PARTIES APPROVED TO RUN IN LEGISLATIVE RACE
REF: LUANDA 0535
1. (U) On July 23, Angola's Constitutional Court authorized
ten political parties and four coalitions to run in the
September 5 legislative elections. The final list of
participating entities contains few surprises; nine of the
ten parties are currently represented in Parliament. The
four coalitions, representing tiny parties and splinter
constituencies, are unlikely to play a large role in the
campaign.
2. (U) To approve the final 14, the Court worked quickly to
winnow 34 candidate lists from 24 political parties and 10
coalitions (reftel). Of the 20 that failed to make the cut,
most did not present the required number of legal signatures
or did not offer a full list of candidates for each of the 18
provincial circuits. Rejected parties now have 24 hours to
appeal the Court's decision; the Court then has 24 hours to
respond. Post doubts, however, that the appeals will sway
the Court.
3. (SBU) The list contains few surprises, and pundits view
the narrow list of 14 - in contrast to the 96 legal political
parties on record before elections were called - as a welcome
house-cleaning to remove miniscule and defunct parties. The
lone surprise was the court's decision in favor of the
candidate list presented by expelled PADEPA member Silva
Cardoso over elected party President Carlos Leitao. The
ruling hinges on a technicality - Leitao and PADEPA never
officially repudiated Cardoso's "election" as party president
following a conference he organized after his expulsion from
the party and armed assault on the party's headquarters.
Some opposition parties and members of civil society have
called the Court's decision "highly suspicious," as Cardoso
is the brother of a senior MPLA member.
4. (U) The list of approved parties/coalitions is as follows:
1. MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola),
which currently holds 129 seats in the National Assembly.
2. UNITA (National Union for the Total Independance of
Angola),which currently holds 70 seats in the National
Assembly.
3. PRS (Social Renovation Party),which currently holds six
seats in the National Assembly.
4. FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola),which
currently holds 5 seats in the National Assembly.
5. PLD (Liberal Democratic Party),which currently holds
three seats in the National Assembly.
6. PRD (Party for Democratic Renovation),which currently
holds one seat in the National Assembly.
7. PDP-ANA (National Alliance Party for Democratic Progress),
which currently holds one seat in the National Assembly.
8. PAJOCA (Alliance of Youth, Workers, and Farmers Party of
Angola),which currently holds one seat in the National
Assembly.
9. FpD (Front for Democracy),which ran in the 1992 elections
with the Democratic Aliance Coalition and won one seat.
10. PADEPA (Party for the Democratic Support and Progress of
Angola),which was founded in 1996.
11. AD-Coligacao (Democratic Aliance Coalition),which
currently holds one seat in the National Assembly.
12. ND (New Democratic Coalition),a new coalition.
13. PPE (Electoral Policy Platform),a new coalition.
14. FOFAC (Fraternal Angolan Forum Coalition),a new
coalition.
MOZENA
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO
SUBJECT: 14 PARTIES APPROVED TO RUN IN LEGISLATIVE RACE
REF: LUANDA 0535
1. (U) On July 23, Angola's Constitutional Court authorized
ten political parties and four coalitions to run in the
September 5 legislative elections. The final list of
participating entities contains few surprises; nine of the
ten parties are currently represented in Parliament. The
four coalitions, representing tiny parties and splinter
constituencies, are unlikely to play a large role in the
campaign.
2. (U) To approve the final 14, the Court worked quickly to
winnow 34 candidate lists from 24 political parties and 10
coalitions (reftel). Of the 20 that failed to make the cut,
most did not present the required number of legal signatures
or did not offer a full list of candidates for each of the 18
provincial circuits. Rejected parties now have 24 hours to
appeal the Court's decision; the Court then has 24 hours to
respond. Post doubts, however, that the appeals will sway
the Court.
3. (SBU) The list contains few surprises, and pundits view
the narrow list of 14 - in contrast to the 96 legal political
parties on record before elections were called - as a welcome
house-cleaning to remove miniscule and defunct parties. The
lone surprise was the court's decision in favor of the
candidate list presented by expelled PADEPA member Silva
Cardoso over elected party President Carlos Leitao. The
ruling hinges on a technicality - Leitao and PADEPA never
officially repudiated Cardoso's "election" as party president
following a conference he organized after his expulsion from
the party and armed assault on the party's headquarters.
Some opposition parties and members of civil society have
called the Court's decision "highly suspicious," as Cardoso
is the brother of a senior MPLA member.
4. (U) The list of approved parties/coalitions is as follows:
1. MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola),
which currently holds 129 seats in the National Assembly.
2. UNITA (National Union for the Total Independance of
Angola),which currently holds 70 seats in the National
Assembly.
3. PRS (Social Renovation Party),which currently holds six
seats in the National Assembly.
4. FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola),which
currently holds 5 seats in the National Assembly.
5. PLD (Liberal Democratic Party),which currently holds
three seats in the National Assembly.
6. PRD (Party for Democratic Renovation),which currently
holds one seat in the National Assembly.
7. PDP-ANA (National Alliance Party for Democratic Progress),
which currently holds one seat in the National Assembly.
8. PAJOCA (Alliance of Youth, Workers, and Farmers Party of
Angola),which currently holds one seat in the National
Assembly.
9. FpD (Front for Democracy),which ran in the 1992 elections
with the Democratic Aliance Coalition and won one seat.
10. PADEPA (Party for the Democratic Support and Progress of
Angola),which was founded in 1996.
11. AD-Coligacao (Democratic Aliance Coalition),which
currently holds one seat in the National Assembly.
12. ND (New Democratic Coalition),a new coalition.
13. PPE (Electoral Policy Platform),a new coalition.
14. FOFAC (Fraternal Angolan Forum Coalition),a new
coalition.
MOZENA