LUANDA— Hundreds
of opposition supporters marched in the Angolan capital Luanda on Saturday to
protest against poll law amendments they say will undermine general elections
next year.
اضافة اعلان
President Joao Lourenco this week implemented a bill
to centralize vote counting rather than tally them at each municipality and
province — a move critics fear will reduce transparency.
All opposition MPs either abstained or voted against
the reform, but had little sway in a parliament dominated by the ruling
People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
The main opposition party UNITA — the National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola — organized Saturday's march to demand
"free and fair elections".
UNITA has suggested measures to avoid alleged fraud,
including biometric voter identification and involving civil society in ballot
counting.
Hundreds of protesters marched into the city center,
holding signs that read: "Let's demand our rights" and "We want
biometric control".
Police armed with batons manned the
demonstration.
Elected in 2017 after his predecessor retired from a
38-year reign, Lourenco is expected to run for a second term in 2022 presidential,
parliamentary, and local elections.
The MPLA has ruled the southwest African country since
independence from Portugal in 1975.
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