The bill, initiated by the President, which determines the awarding of the commemorative medal to entities, individuals or legal entities, national and foreign, that have made relevant contributions to independence, was approved in the plenary session this Thursday with 104 votes in favor, 71 against and one abstention.
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) voted in favor of the law, while the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) voted against and the Social Renewal Party (PRS) abstained.
The legal diploma generated controversy when it was discussed in detail because it provided for decorations only for António Agostinho Neto and José Eduardo dos Santos, the country's first and second Presidents, respectively, and excluded Holden Roberto (FNLA) and Jonas Savimbi (UNITA) from the tributes on the 50th anniversary of independence.
This Thursday, upon returning to the plenary for the final and global vote, the exclusion of some of the signatories of the Alvor Agreement, signed in January 1975, in Portugal, which established the bases for Angola's independence, was once again contested, especially by UNITA.
The MPLA, in its declaration of vote, considered that the medals commemorating the 50 years of independence, celebrated on November 11, 2025, have an "emotional, material and social value that must be considered and respected" by society and those honored.
"We must understand that this commemorative medal is not just a distinction, it constitutes a symbol of unity and national identity and will in reality represent the recognition of our people's participation in the construction of an independent, sovereign and prosperous nation", said MPLA deputy Pedro Neto.
The PHA believes that the law aims to "recognize and value" those who throughout history have contributed to the independence and preservation of national values, as its deputy Fernando Dinis said.
"Decorating does not mean clearing the records of those responsible for crimes against humanity," he said.
UNITA's vote against was justified by deputy Simão Dembo, recalling that Holden Roberto, Agostinho Neto and Jonas Savimbi – signatories of the Alvor Agreement with the Portuguese government – led the three liberation movements that legitimately represented the Angolan people.
"We voted against it because this law carries arrogance, hatred, a lack of humanity and a great lack of respect. There are millions of Angolans who will feel deceived by the exclusion of the other precursors of our independence," he argued.
For the PRS, deputy Rui Malopa Miguel intervened, justifying the abstention because many of the ex-combatants of the Angolan liberation struggles are now living in poverty and without schools for their children, drinking water and without dignity.
The national independence commemorative medal has three classes: honor, independence and peace, and development.
The deputies also approved in this session the proposed law on clinical and biomedical research, which establishes investigations in the fields of trials and bioequivalence tests of medicines, development of medicines and health technologies and others.
The amendment to the proposed law on the Angolan passport and the entry and exit regime for national citizens was also approved in this plenary session, amendments that aim to include retired attorneys general of the Republic, retired judges of the higher courts and retired deputy attorneys general of the Republic in the universe of entities benefiting from the diplomatic passport.
