Elections 2022: US senator slams anti-democratic rhetoric

 Washington - The chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Karen Bass Friday urged the Angolan political leaders to refrain from anti-democratic rhetoric.

In a statement, the Congressmember advised that all protests should be peaceful, regardless of affiliation with political parties or the outcome of any court decisions related to the general elections.

Karen Bass congratulated the Angolan people on holding the elections on 24 August, in which voters registered their preferences and had the opportunity to be heard.

She stressed the victory of the incumbent President João Lourenço in the presidential race for the country, adding that a second term for President Lourenço is an opportunity to continue to improve relations with the United States, especially with regard to growing US trade and public-private investment in Angola.

With an abstention rate of 55.18 percent, the highest in the country's electoral history, the vote on 24 August stood at 6.4 million (44.82%) of the more than 14 million of registered voters.

Data released by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) put the MPLA at 51.17 percent, accounted for 3. 2 million votes, which allowed it to get 124 parliamentary seats.

The country’s major opposition UNITA garnered 2. 7 million votes and 90 MPs.

Benedito Daniel's Social Renewal Party (PRS) came in third with 71,351 votes (1.14%) and two seats, regaining the place of third political party in the country, it lost in 2012 to CASA-CE.

Also the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) led by Simi a Nimbi, and the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), by Florbela Catarina Malaquias, both with two MPs.

The National Patriotic Alliance (APN) and the Nationalist Party for Justice in Angola (P-NJANGO) did not win any seats in the National Assembly.

The last two are exposed to extinction by the Constitutional Court, as they were below 0.5 percent as the minimum percentage value imposed by the law to ensure their continuity.

Angola held its first elections in 1992, before returning to the polls successively in 2008, 2012 and 2017.