EU “ready” to follow elections but Angola “has not yet expressed interest”

The EU ambassador to Angola, Jeannette Seppen, predicted that the next general elections in Angola, scheduled for the second half of August, will serve to strengthen democracy in the country.

"As for all elections, we hope that it will be a moment when Angolan citizens can express their voice, their electoral preference and that will, once again, be a stage for Angola to advance in its democracy", said this Wednesday. the European diplomat, in Luanda, when questioned by Lusa.

According to Jeannete Seppen, the European bloc is ready to follow the elections in Angola, "but it still does not know" whether EU observers will be in Angola, as "conversations are currently taking place with the Angolan Government and with all important partners on this issue". .

"To see how we are going to advance in this direction", continued the EU ambassador to Angola, at the end of the official launch ceremony of the Project for Support to Civil Society and Local Administration in Angola (PASCAL).

Angola holds in the second half of August this year, as established by the country's revised Constitution, the fifth general elections in the country's history, since 1992.

The last two elections, namely in 2012 and 2017, did not have observers from the European Union.

"The European Union is at the disposal of Angola and if the Angolan Government wants this follow-up, we are available", stressed the diplomat.

"It still hasn't come out [the expression of interest] and the invitation [from Angola], it's still a little early for that", he replied to Lusa.

Seppen also said that the European bloc follows with great interest the pre-election period in Angola, but "does not make judgments" about the current sociopolitical "tension" because "it is an Angolan internal process".

"We, in our partnership, observe what is happening, we do not make judgments about this moment, because it is an Angolan internal process and we hope that the preparations for the election year go well", she stressed.

"And that the steps that are being taken continue and that, on election day, all Angolan citizens have the opportunity to cast their vote", concluded the European Union ambassador to Angola.