The law firm will defend the interests of Ana Paula dos Santos, her children and represent the Angolan Government in matters involving the diplomatic and institutional protection of José Eduardo dos Santos, who did not have Spanish nationality and was not a resident of Spain, he told Lusa a source close to the process.
"It was a transitory condition for the purposes of medical assistance and, therefore, the executive is now dealing with institutional and diplomatic issues", the same source told Lusa.
This is the latest episode in the dispute involving the Angolan Government and some of José Eduardo dos Santos' sons, regarding the delivery and transfer of the former President's remains to Luanda, which part of the family is opposed to.
As a source close to the process told Lusa, the possibility of a new meeting between the Angolan delegations and the family is ruled out, since the children would have 48 hours to respond to the executive's proposals, presented on Saturday at a family meeting in which the sons Tchizé dos Santos nor José Filomeno dos Santos "Zenu".
"The executive hired a law firm that is now conducting the process. There was a meeting on Saturday, there was not and there will not be any more, the Angolan government has already presented its views, more than 72 hours have passed and there has been no response. ", added the same source.
It is now up to the courts to decide on the delivery and eventual transfer of the body of José Eduardo dos Santos, who has eight children, from five women, and which is being disputed within the family.
On the one hand, there are Tchizé dos Santos and his older brothers, who refuse to celebrate funerals in Angola, where they have not been for several years, since their successor, João Lourenço, took office in 2017, starting a fight against corruption that reached the eldest daughter, Isabel dos Santos, and the son "Zenu".
On the other hand, there is the widow and mother of three of José Eduardo dos Santos' children, Ana Paula dos Santos, who had been estranged from her husband for some years, reappearing at his side in recent months, and who was the interlocutor of the Angolan Government when he was admitted to the clinic in Barcelona, where he died on Friday.
The Angolan government has declared that it intends to hold a state funeral in Luanda, but the decision has the vehement opposition of his daughter Tchizé dos Santos, stating that this was not his father's will, and that José Eduardo dos Santos did not want to be buried in Angola. while João Lourenço is in power.
The judicial decision on the delivery of the ex-President's body should be taken this week by the Spanish justice, after the result of the autopsy has already been communicated to the family.
Differences between the Government and part of José Eduardo dos Santos' family led two Angolan delegations to Barcelona, one comprising members of the executive, including the Minister of State and Head of the Military House, Francisco Furtado, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. , Téte Antonio, and another linked to judicial entities, led by the Attorney General of the Republic.
