"This process (of dismissal of the President of the Republic) was not discussed, at least the process should be discussed to be able to see whether those who proposed the dismissal were right or not and through discussion that is where we could draw value judgments, but unfortunately nothing was done, the process did not move forward and we have to agree with the majority", Benedito Daniel responded to Lusa this Monday.
In statements in parliament, where the solemn opening act of the 2023-2024 parliamentary year is taking place, the president of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) stated that his party voted to abstain in the extraordinary plenary session to create a possible commission to analyze the accusation by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which holds a majority in the National Assembly, rejected, on Saturday, the intention to create a possible commission to evaluate UNITA's complaints, in a session that is taking place under great tension.
For consideration in the plenary of the proposal for the accusation and dismissal of the President, João Lourenço, it was necessary to create an eventual parliamentary committee, but this committee was not even created, after a vote against by the parliamentary majority.
According to Benedito Daniel, the PRS was neither in favor nor against the dismissal of the President and therefore, he argued, voted abstention in last Saturday's plenary session.
"Because we did not have access to evidence leading to the dismissal of the President of the Republic, but unfortunately, we also could not design the defense system because we knew nothing, we knew a political fact that existed, but nothing told us that this political fact was sustainable or no and for this reason we had to abstain", maintained the leader of the renovators.
In relation to the second parliamentary year of the current legislature, which begins with the President of the Republic's speech on the State of the Nation, the PRS deputy also highlighted the implementation of local authorities as the main challenge for the deputies.
The deputies "have several challenges, it is necessary to remember that we have left many laws to be approved, such as the law amending the Value Added Tax (VAT), we are still anxiously awaiting the law on the institutionalization of local authorities", he stressed.
"For us, the Law on the Institutionalization of Local Authorities is essential and we must make an effort to have this law approved during this session, so that we have a time horizon for the holding of local elections", pointed out Benedito Daniel.
"Now more than ever the need to implement local authorities is felt, many problems that the country is experiencing would be minimized if we had local authorities in the country", he added.
Asked whether there would be political will from the MPLA to complete the municipal package, the politician replied: "Of course, there must be political will because it is a necessity."
"We have to think about the country and not simply about politicians, so the country complains, the country wants it and we have to obey the country's will", concluded the president of the PRS.
