João Lourenço refuses to retreat from democratic opening or fight corruption

"If you look closely, the Angolan people got used to seeing in the kwanza note the faces of the Presidents of the Republic of Angola. Now there would be another one, if I were in favor of flattery, the cult of personality, the kwanzas I have in my pocket they would have my face there, but they don't and I'm the President. I didn't need to do anything, just keep silent and that third face, which is mine, would appear", said João Lourenço during a collective interview held this Thursday Thursday in Luanda.

According to João Lourenço, as he does not support the cult of personality and flattery, it was on his initiative that this decision was taken by the Council of Ministers.

João Lourenço also commented on the criticisms related to an alleged setback of democratic opening in the country, compared to what happened at the beginning of his term.

The President stressed that he made a grand opening, citing the cases of the transmission of the plenary sessions of the National Assembly in public bodies, the permission to expand the Ecclesia radio signal throughout the country and the public recognition and request for forgiveness by the victims of the 27th of May 1977, which he considered "a clear sign of openness".

"Was there a retreat in what? It was good that they presented facts, which we had already advanced and retreated, by chance did we tell the National Assembly to stop broadcasting live? No! unspoken, back off, there is no transmission throughout the territory? No! Then on what," he asked.

The head of state said the same is true for the fight against corruption.

"Many say it started well, but now it's going backwards, I've given you numbers. How far back is there in the fight against corruption? How far back is there to democratic opening in the country? Give me facts, I don't know" , stressed.

João Lourenço reported that from 2017 to the present date, the Attorney General's Office instructed more than 2300 cases, "only the so-called white-collar crimes or crimes against the economy", of which 330 became final, 26 having ended in convictions, some of which in the second instance.