"I believe we must respect the separation of powers. We have our functions as parliaments, and heads of state also have their responsibilities. It will not be the Parliamentary Assembly [of the CPLP] that will decide not to hold a summit," declared the new president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (AP-CPLP), Margarida Talapa, president of the Mozambican parliament, while presiding over the body's first regular session in Maputo after taking office.
Guinea-Bissau sent a letter to the AP-CPLP this Tuesday asking it to "refuse to provide institutional coverage for events that contradict the democratic principles and legal foundations of our community," referring to the CPLP summit, taking place on Friday in Bissau.
In the letter, the Guinean parliament, which had no representative at the 14th Parliamentary Assembly of the CPLP, which concludes this Tuesday, indicates that it "is experiencing a serious constitutional anomaly."
"The appearance of stability cannot hide the absence of democratic legality. Peace cannot be imposed through silence. Citizenship does not flourish where fear prevails over freedom," he stated, denouncing the closure of Parliament, which remains "militarized."
Therefore, he calls on the body to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring the political and parliamentary situation in member states and to "refrain from legitimizing processes of exclusion or suspension of democratically elected parliaments."
Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló dissolved the country's parliament in December 2023, before the 12-month period established by the Constitution had elapsed, following the legislative elections won by the Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI-Terra Ranka), led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).
Bissau will host the 15th CPLP Summit on Friday, where she will assume the rotating presidency of the CPLP for two years, succeeding São Tomé and Príncipe. The next presidency is expected to be decided.
Speaking at the session, the new president of the AP-CPLP promised that the body will duly monitor the situation in Guinea-Bissau, but urged attention to the observance of the body's responsibilities.
"We must respect the limits of our responsibilities and not go beyond the responsibilities of our parliaments. We, as president, have taken the position that we will continue to monitor the situation in Guinea," Talapa added, also promising to send an observation team to the polls.
"Elections have been scheduled for this year. We will duly monitor them. We will create the conditions for us to effectively participate as observers by creating a group that will go there," said Margarida Talapa.
Mozambique assumed the rotating presidency of the AP-CPLP this Tuesday, succeeding Equatorial Guinea, for a two-year term focused on peace and inclusion.
"This is a collective journey, and each country must assume its role in the organization's growth to promote greater unity, cohesion, and collaborative work," said Margarida Talapa upon taking office.
She reiterated her promise to invest in strengthening democracy and the rule of law and in monitoring the implementation of the mobility agreement among member countries, including holding regular meetings to ensure agreements that facilitate mobility within the CPLP.
Talapa stated that she will focus on attracting private investment by harmonizing customs and tax rates among member countries and promoting the Portuguese language and culture of the CPLP countries, including reviewing the organization's statutes and advancing gender equality.
Founded in 1996, the CPLP includes nine countries - Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.
