In an interview with Rádio Essencial, one day after Lusa released the Public Prosecutor's Office indictment charging the businesswoman with 12 crimes related to her management at the state oil company, Isabel dos Santos considered it a "diversionary maneuver" to comply the political calendar of the current head of state.
"There is no doubt that João Lourenço wants a third term and part of this is to give him popularity votes. He is doing this as part of his agenda for a third term to be able to change the Constitution and get anyone out of the way who don't have the same vision", highlighted the daughter of former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
"I don't believe that the State has to own everything, I believe in freedom of the press, we have a very different political position", continued Isabel dos Santos, accusing João Lourenço of wanting to take economic power from anyone who can stand up to him, support other candidates or other parties.
The businesswoman complained of having seen her money and assets frozen for around four years, without any conviction or accusation, and she was unable to even pay for her children's education or health expenses.
"These are very aggressive measures, they only do this to those who want to intimidate", she stressed, also questioning the management of the companies that were taken away from her, namely the telecommunications operator Unitel, which is facing difficulties.
Isabel dos Santos guaranteed that she will respond to the accusations made against her within the ten-day period given to her to provide clarifications, that her lawyer will do everything she can to submit everything within the deadline and stated that there is no doubt in any way, due to the request sent by the Angolan authorities to Interpol and which prevents her from traveling.
"The powers of attorney contain my address, the Angolan and Portuguese authorities know where I am, I have received mail from the Portuguese authorities at my home," she added.
The businesswoman highlighted that she was never part of political decisions nor was part of the MPLA's leadership structures and that she did not have close relationships with João Lourenço and his family, saying she did not know the reasons for choosing this candidate to succeed her father.
Isabel dos Santos stated that José Eduardo dos Santos had a "collegial" management style that included the opinions of his assistants: "I believe that the MPLA must have debated João Lourenço's candidacy and made a decision accordingly".
The businesswoman highlighted that for her family this is "a tough, difficult time".
"We love Angola and not living in Angola is something we suffer a lot", highlighted Isabel dos Santos.
"We miss, we feel that what is happening to us is not fair, that it is happening to us because we are children of José Eduardo dos Santos", she continued.
Isabel dos Santos and her brothers Welwitscia "Tchizé" dos Santos and José Eduardo Paulino dos Santos "Coreon Du" have lived outside Angola for several years, after João Lourenço took power, with the businesswoman being targeted in several international legal proceedings.
The daughter of the former President criticized the Angolan executive for having behaved "in a very inhumane way" at the time of José Eduardo dos Santos' death, imposing a state funeral in Luanda, against the wishes of his eldest children, and accused the political power of not having been loyal to his father or to the history of Angola, lacking voices to speak up against what was happening.
Isabel dos Santos is accused of 12 crimes relating to her management at Sonangol in the period between July 2016 and November 2017.
