According to the chairman of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA, the largest opposition party), Liberty Chiyaka, the contestation of the contest promoted by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) arises because "Indra's conduct has undermined transparency electoral".
"Law No. 41/2020 of 23 December establishes principles and rules that, in our view, were violated in the public tender held by the CNE", said Liberty Chiayaka during a press conference in Luanda.
The UNITA politician states that, under article 9 of the Public Procurement Law, those interested in public procurement procedures cannot engage in, participate in or support corrupt and fraudulent practices, such as the intentional declaration of false facts".
For UNITA, Indra, "convicted in Spain of fraudulent practices", will have "intentionally declared false or wrong facts to participate in the competition held by the CNE, aiming to prevent the participation of other interested parties and restrict competition".
The criterion "required by the CNE of experience in supplying and providing goods and services in SADC [Southern African Development Community] countries, for more than 10 years, in addition to being illegal, violates the principle of equality, likewise , contravenes legal principles with regard to competition and the prohibition of practices that restrict competition", he pointed out.
Indra has been challenged by opposition political parties and Angolan civil society for allegedly "biasing the results" of the elections in Angola, held in 2008, 2012 and 2017.
The next general elections in Angola are scheduled for the second half of August 2022 and Indra was the company chosen by the CNE, through a public tender, to provide the technological solution that encompasses the provisional count and the final count of all registered votes. in the general elections.
Indra guaranteed, in a statement sent to Lusa on Monday, that the electoral process in Angola will be conducted "in a professional and transparent manner".
CNE spokesman Lucas Quilundo said last week that the departure of the other competing company, SmartMatic, was due to non-compliance with the rules of the contest and ruled out that Indra's choice compromises the "smoothness" of the electoral process, despite the Angolan opposition challenge the option for allegations of fraud.
The UNITA parliamentary group presented this Wednesday "political-legislative initiatives within the framework of electoral transparency", guaranteeing "to produce laws, which have to be produced, and to develop with the people actions of supervision and permanent control of the electoral process".
UNITA also reported that, within the framework of the supervisory action, it sent two requests to the President of the National Assembly, namely one for the "immediate constitution of a special commission (if any) to monitor the proper organization of the elections".
A parliamentary hearing of the president and the plenary of the CNE, by one of the specialized committees of the National Assembly, was also requested by the "black rooster" party.
"On this basis, we believe that the National Assembly can and should also play a more interventionist role in monitoring and controlling the process, in the material scope of exercising its powers of control and supervision of the proper execution of the electoral law", said Liberty Chiyaka.
UNITA also requested, in parliament, a discussion for 24 February on the strike of higher education teachers, "a relevant and urgent matter", and a discussion for 2 March next on the "unequal treatment" of political parties in the public press.
On the situation of university professors in the public sector, who have been on strike for an indefinite period since January 3, Chiyaka considered that his party "is in solidarity" with the professors and their demands "are legitimate".
"We ask the President of the National Assembly and the plenary for a discussion for the plenary meeting on the 24th of February, to allow the parliament itself to also express its solidarity and help the parties to maintain dialogue for the construction of consensus", observed.
Regarding the "unequal treatment" of political parties in public information bodies, the deputy said that "there is a hegemonic party that is confused with the State, because it has captured the State and uses the State for its own benefit".
"Let's take the issue to parliament, for a debate. There are no fair elections without plural public communication. The fairness of the elections begins to be evaluated now", he shot.
