Speaking to journalists three days after his meeting with the President of the Republic as a counselor, as he is part of the consultative body that João Lourenço met to announce the election day, Adalberto da Costa Júnior said that the date "is in accordance with the law". , but questioned the lack of press access to members of the Council of the Republic.
He also insisted on the need to have "a democratic, credible and law-abiding electoral process", once again asking for the provisional publication of electoral registration lists, which "unfortunately" has not yet taken place, and demanded improvements in parties' access to public media. .
"Censorship is a scandal, it is a scandal to see political parties having rallies broadcast live (which are) denied to other parties", said the leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Electoral campaigns are supposed to be treated equally as "there should be no advantages for either party, as determined by the Angolan Constitution and electoral law", he continued.
"Here we have a party that wants to have advantages, that seeks advantages for being in the government and that is taking an illegal approach to the electoral process. I don't think it's normal to ask for elevation and ethics and violate the laws, this ethics must for us all", he stressed, challenging the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to "stop taking advantage" of being the Government.
MPLA leader João Lourenço said at a rally on Saturday in Mbanza Congo (Zaire province) that his opponents are looking to discredit and tarnish the elections.
Asked if he felt targeted by João Lourenço's words, Adalberto da Costa Júnior replied, ironically: "Who was the subject of a live broadcast of your rally? Was it UNITA?" Does UNITA have rallies broadcast live by public bodies? Has the President of UNITA ever been invited to programs? It seems to me that there are those who speak, but do not comply".
Regarding the presentation of the Government's program, he said that it will come in due course, with the general lines being publicly presented in the form of an electoral manifesto.
"There is no party that has made its governance content public. Our program is finished, we are now in the candidacy challenge and in a week or two we will start doing this work", said the leader, adding that his proposals for the future will be shared through a manifesto that "is very rich".
Adalberto da Costa Júnior also declined to reveal when the lists of candidates will be released, which will be delivered "on time".
"We have the work done globally and we will meet the deadlines rigorously, we will certainly release the list, well before the middle of the deadline", he declared.
