Mário Pinto de Andrade, who was speaking to the press at the end of the opening ceremony of the constituent congress of PRA-JA Servir Angola, in which Chivukuvuku, candidate for the leadership of this new party, legalized in October 2024, presented his lines of action, stated that there is room for more political parties in Angola and that Angolan society must get used to multipartyism.
“What matters is that people present their ideas, their programs, and the Supreme Court approves them. Now we will all enter the political competition process and each one will present their ideas for the 2027 elections. I think the country will win, the more political forces there are,” said the party’s Secretary of State Reform, Public Administration and Municipalities.
According to the member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the party has always been prepared and continues to be prepared for the elections and to govern the country.
“We have already won five elections and we will fight to win the sixth election, because those in power want to maintain power, and to do so they have to work hard. Those who are not in power want to reach power, and they also have to work hard,” said Mário Pinto de Andrade, stressing that it is up to the “sovereign people” to decide in 2027 “who they want to govern Angola”.
Asked to comment on Abel Chivukuvuku's statement that, in 2027, PRA-JA Servir Angola will be the Government or part of it, Mário Pinto de Andrade argued that “political leaders have the right to dream and have the right to make proposals”.
“Now, it is up to the sovereign people to decide. Only after the 2027 election results will we see what the political geography of Angola will be. Until then, we all have the right to dream,” he stressed.
Also present at the PRA-JA Servir Angola congress, the vice-president of the National Union for the Independence of Angola (UNITA), Simão Dembo, said there was no fear about the emergence of a new party, because the largest Angolan opposition party (in reference to his party) is “the herald of democracy”.
“It is a party that is emerging, we hope that it can actually serve to enhance this democracy that we are the authors of here in Angola, we are the fathers of democracy, so that it becomes increasingly larger and more forces emerge, to strengthen our Angolan political mosaic”, he highlighted.
Simão Dembo said that, with the legalization of PRA-JA Servir Angola, “there is no end to the United Patriotic Front [FPU, of which UNITA and PRA-JA are part]”, which remains “firm”.
“It was a platform designed to address the 2022 elections. They have already passed. As for whether it will likely be maintained for the 2027 elections, it will depend on our party congresses. This one is being held now and ours will take place in a few months,” he stressed.
The vice-president of UNITA stated that, within a few days, the meeting of the Political Commission that will convene the 14th UNITA congress will be held, where one of the major topics to be debated will be what format to take for the 2027 elections.
In the 2022 elections, the FPU ran for election, coordinated by UNITA and integrating the now PRA-JA Servir Angola party, the Democratic Bloc and individuals from civil society.
This Monday, in the opening speech of the constituent congress of PRA-JA Servir Angola, Abel Chivukuvuku, general coordinator and candidate for the leadership of this party, legalized seven months ago, said that, in addition to the election of the president, one of the objectives is also to define a vision and political position on the future of the FPU.
