With 1001 delegates, the congress will reach its peak on Thursday, with the election of the new leader of what is the third political force in Angola with seats in parliament.
In his speech as the outgoing leader, Benedito Daniel said that, with his election in 2017, a congress that had three candidates, the first challenge was to participate in the general elections held that same year, one month before the start of the electoral campaign.
Benedito Daniel, who is running for a second term, said that, in 2017, he launched a campaign to consolidate the unity and cohesion of the party, stressing that "those who were rejected speak for themselves".
"We brought in many comrades who had left the party for various reasons, we reconciled those who were at odds and we welcomed new members, some from other political groups, from the installation committees not recognised as political parties, others out of passion, who identified with the philosophy of renewing the country and joined", he said.
According to Benedito Daniel, the term that is ending was "full of achievements", of which he is proud, stressing that despite the scarcity of resources, the social dignity of leaders and others was achieved, with material and rolling goods, which allow the execution of tasks.
During the term, Benedito Daniel continued, he maintained the identity of the party and loyalty to its ideals and convictions, in addition to strengthening the relationship with society.
"We remained firm in defending federalism as the only form of organization of the State, geared towards the development of Angola", highlighted the politician, declaring that some objectives were not achieved due to financial issues.
According to Benedito Daniel, some disputes delayed the holding of this congress, which was initially scheduled for April of this year.
Benedito Daniel was referring to the candidate Sapalo António, who filed a precautionary measure with the Constitutional Court, alleging irregularities in the formation of the national preparatory committee for the 5th congress.
The court granted the precautionary measure, urging the party to refrain from holding the congress in question.
"The party immediately complied with the decision of that sovereign body and the national preparatory committee sent a letter to the candidate Sapalo António, to validate his candidacy in order to be in line with the decision and continue the actions related to holding the congress", explained Benedito Daniel.
According to Benedito Daniel, the decision of the Constitutional Court was not due to irregularities in the constitution of the national preparatory committee of the 5th congress, but rather because it considered a rule in article no. 41 of the party's statutes to be unconstitutional.
Five days before the congress began, Sapalo António wrote to the "alleged preparatory committee" demanding that his photograph be removed from the ballot paper within 24 hours, allegedly placed without his consent, "under penalty of civil and criminal liability of the authors of this macabre action".
On 30 September, the commission responded that, "with approximately five days to go until the congress, the national preparatory commission does have the legitimacy and authority to have already drawn up the ballot paper for the congress with two candidates qualified".
The commission stressed that the electoral campaign took place between 25 August and 24 September and, by the end of the established calendar for this action by the candidates, no candidate qualified had notified the commission of their withdrawal.
The PRS, founded in 1990, is the only party among the parties that emerged at the beginning of the multi-party system in Angola, in 1992, that remains in parliament.
