Mandatory says that candidates for the MPLA congress “will have to face João Lourenço”

"The other candidates are the ones who have to face the candidate João Lourenço", said Pedro de Morais Neto, when asked if João Lourenço was prepared to face any other militant that appeared in the scope of the conclave.

The current president of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), João Lourenço, was the first member of the party to formalize his candidacy for leadership, aiming at the 8th Ordinary Congress, which takes place from 9 to 11 December.

The information was provided by the coordinator of the candidacy subcommittee of the National Preparatory Commission of this congress, Luísa Damião, after receiving 21,750 signatures that conform the candidacy of João Lourenço, also President of the Republic.

The signatures were collected "in a record period of seven days" as the president of João Lourenço made known, stating that his candidate "has knowledge, militancy and an inclusive project aimed at improving conditions in Angola".

According to Pedro de Morais Neto, "in due time" the main axes of candidate João Lourenço's strategy motion will be known, centered on "continuing the affirmation of democracy" in the country, "strengthening" the party "and, above all, improving the situation economic".

"With the acceleration, but very fast, of all the condiments for our country to be a country in the concert of nations in Africa", he pointed out.

The process of submitting candidacies, within the scope of this congress, started on the 20th of this month and runs until November 5th, and the verification of their compliance takes place until November 6th.

Asked by Lusa about the relevance of multiple candidacies in this congress, Pedro de Morais Neto said it was an "evolution of the MPLA, as happens in other parties", considering, however, that "multiple candidacies were never called into question" .

"Since 1992, we are a democratic party par excellence and, therefore, there could have been candidates before, this time there are multiple candidacies, but this is nothing new for our party", argued the politician from the "comrades" party.