COURT VALIDATES CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION

Luanda – Constitutional Court endorsed the proposal to revise the Constitution, in a ruling published Tuesday in Luanda

The Constitutional Court’s decision gives “the green light to the Constitutional Revision Law”.

It covers aspects such as the political inspection, the setting of the date for the elections, the autonomy of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) and the jubilation of the judges at age 70.

In the ruling, the Constitutional Court requests the revision of the rule that obliges the Superior Courts to send reports to the National Assembly, keeping, however, the other aspects contemplated in the constitutional revision process intact.

However, the National Assembly (AN) approved, on June 22, with a qualified majority of 152 votes in favour, none against and 56 abstentions, the first partial ordinary revision of the Constitution, 11 years after its entry into force, the February 5, 2010.

Among other issues, the revision clarifies the difficulties of interpretation that existed, regarding the supervision of the Executive by the National Assembly.

It assures the exercise of voting for Angolan citizens residing abroad, as well as removing from the current Constitution the gradualism in the implementation of the Local Authorities.

The approved changes also cover the structure of positioning institutions, such as the National Bank of Angola (BNA), which now has constitutional status and a new way of appointing its governor.

With the revision now validated, the Constitution will have 249 articles, against the current 244. Forty-four of which were amended and seven new ones included.

The Constitution assigns the President of the Republic and one third of the 220 MPs of the National Assembly, in effective functions, the initiative of constitutional revision.

The constitutional review in progress is an initiative of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço

Source: Angola Press News Agency