"As for the idea of having elections in 2020, it is not a question of belief, but of inaugurating a new republican ethic guided by the principle of compliance and the honour of the word given," Fernando Gomes said at a press conference in Luanda.
According to the civic leader, who is part of the group of organisations that has scheduled a demonstration on 23 January at the parliament "against vices" in the municipal legislative package, João Lourenço "must show that he has inaugurated a new moment of keeping his word".
The "Agir Project" and a group of civic organisations from the country called "Jovens Pelas Autarquias" (Young People for the Municipalities) presented this Tuesday a position on the municipal process, whose first elections are scheduled for 2020.
The parliament has scheduled the first plenary session of 2020 for 23 January and the 12 points to be discussed do not include any on the municipal legislative package.
The organic laws on local elections and the organisation and functioning of local authorities and the law on the administrative supervision of local authorities are, so far, the three pieces of legislation already approved by the Angolan parliament of the 10 that make up the local legislative package.
For Fernando Gomes, who pointed out the need to approve the municipal legislative package by March 2020, the country needs "a Republic of citizens and not of militants".
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the ruling party in the country, said last Friday that it "is not afraid" of the local elections, scheduled for 2020, claiming to be "the most interested in the process".
In relation to the MPLA leader's position, Fernando Gomes applauded, saying that the municipalities "are not to be feared, but to be effective because they are a guaranteed right to the citizen".
"And we think that the game should not be of fear or not, we have to hurry because the municipalities are things for yesterday, so it is good that they are effective in the 164 municipalities," he said.
