Unsurprisingly, the 2025 State Budget proposal was approved with 112 votes in favour from the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), 63 votes against from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and three abstentions from members of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA).
This instrument for Angola's macroeconomic management, which estimates revenue and sets expenditures at the same value, 34.63 billion kwanzas, now goes to the special discussion and should go to a final and global vote in the second half of December.
MPLA member of parliament Jorge Ribeiro Wefo said that his party voted yes to the executive's legislative initiative because it understands that the document includes expenditures for the main programmes that contribute to the country's economic and social development.
“There are no budgets capable of meeting all needs. In this sense, approving the 2025 State Budget proposal is not only a sign and a sense of commitment to the ultimate goals of the Angolan State, but also to fulfilling the fundamental tasks of the State”, he justified in his declaration of vote.
The Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) voted in favour because, as its deputy Fernando Dinis indicated, it believes that, despite several shortcomings, the proposal will deserve a detailed analysis in detail for its improvement.
On the part of UNITA, the declaration of vote against was presented by deputy Américo Chivukuvuku considering that as it is drawn up the budget “does not solve the problems that plague the country and the populations”.
The UNITA deputies “unfortunately the 2025 State Budget will not improve the lives of families, it will not solve the problem of poverty that plagues 17 million citizens or the problem of hunger that plagues 13 million people”.
Rui Malopa Miguel, a PRS MP, justified the renovators' voting option by saying that the discussion and vote on the Budget took place at a time when the country and Angolans are experiencing a “very worrying” socioeconomic situation.
“Because after 49 years of independence, coherent and realistic measures that give families some hope for survival have not yet been agreed upon,” he said, justifying his abstention.
The 2025 State Budget proposal already includes funds for the three new provinces resulting from the country's new administrative division, and foresees a high debt service that will absorb almost 50 percent of budget expenditure, totaling 16.5 billion kwanzas, of which 12.45 billion kwanzas are earmarked for debt repayment.
