The proposals for revision of the Constitution that the country is preparing to debate were revealed Tuesday in Luanda by the Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, Adão de Almeida, in a presentation shared with the ministers of Territory Administration, Marcy Lopes, and Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queirós.
The President, João Lourenço, proposed a punctual revision in the terms of the article 233 of the Constitution of Angola whose project was this Tuesday appreciated in the Council of Ministers and entered in the National Assembly.
The Constitution of the Republic of Angola (CRA) completed 11 years since it came into force, a time considered sufficient to apply and understand the Constitution and take stock of its validity and merits, said Adão de Almeida.
The diagnosis showed that the CRA has "considerable longevity potential," and is potentially adaptable to the Angolan context, as well as conferring stability to government action, he added.
The document presents, however, areas with "unclear areas, somewhat ambiguous, providing different spaces for interpretation," which suggests, according to Adão de Almeida "adaptation exercises," as well as areas where the technical-conceptual treatment has not been the most rigorous and also some areas, with regard to political rights that "needs some strengthening.
The proposed revision between textual changes, repeal of articles and additions will have an impact of approximately 40 articles, he estimated.
One of the main points has to do with the constitutional position of the BNA as a central bank, since the proposal "raises to the level of the Constitution" the main functions of the bank as a guarantor of price stability of the financial system and currency stabilization.
It also recognizes the BNA as an independent administrative entity, more detached from the executive branch, as a result of the reduction of the intervention of the President of the Republic.
In this sense, it is proposed that the nomination of the president of the BNA, until now made by the President of the Republic, will also have the intervention of the parliament.
The proposed model is to present the chosen candidate to parliament, who will be heard by a specialized committee, only to be appointed thereafter, which according to Adão de Almeida also translates "in the reinforcement of legitimacy.
The proposal also clarifies aspects related to the accountability mechanisms of the BNA that must send periodic reports to the President and the National Assembly and introduces novelties regarding the budget of local authorities.
The current Constitution suggests that expenses and revenues are part of the General State Budget (OGE), a wording that, according to Adão de Almeida, "is not rigorous and is not in accordance with the autonomy of local authorities," since the OGE should only contain the resources that will be transferred, and not all the revenues and expenses.
