The parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) sent this Monday to the TC a successive abstract inspection action of the regulations of the competition for the provision of the position of president of the CNE, conducted by the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ).
In a statement made public, the party announced that it had asked the TC to declare the unconstitutionality of articles of the CSMJ decision that approved the aforementioned competition and the nullity of the curricular competition “made based on an unconstitutional rule”.
For UNITA, the evaluation criterion that favors magistrates with electoral experience incurs a “risk of distorting the impartiality and independence” of the CNE.
“This approach restricts equality of opportunity and may compromise the credibility of the process, in addition to not preventing someone from being chosen who lacks ethics, honesty, common sense and is prevented from successively renewing their mandates,” the statement said.
The CSMJ announced last week that judge Manuel Pereira da Silva “Manico” was declared the winner of the curriculum competition for president of the CNE of Angola, totaling 91 points, and should remain in office for another five years.
Manuel Pereira da Silva, outgoing president of the CNE, beat candidates Rosalino Miguel Domingos and Amélia Cristina Ernesto, who were awarded 48 points and 33 points, respectively.
Seniority in the judiciary, experience in conducting electoral processes, academic training, professional merit and other experiences were the criteria for the competition, according to the final report on the evaluation and verification of applications.
According to the CSMJ, Manuel Pereira da Silva's seniority in the judiciary and experience in conducting electoral processes were fundamental in evaluating his candidacy.
Manuel Pereira da Silva has presided over the CNE since February 19, 2020 and, in the last general elections, in 2022, his “suitability” was challenged.
The curricular competition promoted by the CSMJ in 2019 and approved in January 2020 was also contested by judge Agostinho Santos, the defeated candidate, due to alleged “irregularities”.
Pereira da Silva was sworn in by parliament as president of the CNE in February 2020, amid many protests from the opposition and civil society, who accused him of “lack of moral and legal suitability” for the position.
With the publication of the final report of this competition, on the 13th, the president of the CSMJ must communicate the winner to the president of the National Assembly, after the five-day period for any complaints.
