Mozambique Elections: Political parties call for postponement of voter registration - Watch
O País
The Parliament approved today the Proposal for the Amendment of the Constitution of the Republic, following the consensus reached between the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.
At today’s plenary session, the MPs unanimously approved, in general terms, the proposal for an amendment the Constitution of the Republic.
For the Commission of Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality, the proposal for a law to change the Constitution of the Republic is timely and relevant, since it aims to achieve an effective and lasting peace.
The proposal of the amendment to the Constitution of the Republic reinforces the powers of the Provincial Assemblies, according to what the Head of State said when it was presented.
The proposal for constitutional change states that the provincial governor presides over the provincial executive council, although it does not specify its powers and it also empowers the Council of Ministers and the President of the Republic to dissolve and dismiss the decentralised organs of governance.
Mayors
On the other hand, with the constitutional change, voters lose the right to directly elect the mayor, president of the municipality, who will be chosen by the political party or group of citizens who win the municipal elections. In the proposal, the President of the Republic justifies that this change reflects the consensus reached and has the advantage of simplifying the electoral process for the citizen, who then makes a single choice in electing the local assembly.
Nyusi also pointed out the advantage of economic nature for the country, taking into account that it prevents the realisation of second rounds in case the candidate for president of the municipality does not obtain an absolute majority in the election, as well as preventing by-elections in cases some definitive impediment occurs.
In this system, each political party, coalitions of political parties or groups of citizen voters, in submitting the list to running for the local [municipal assembly] assembly, will simultaneously be presenting the candidate to the executive body, president to the municipality or mayor.
By Ilídia Alberto
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