Frelimo’s absolute majority will make it “more arrogant” in Mozambican parliament – analysts

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Frelimo’s absolute majority will make it “more arrogant” in Mozambican parliament – analysts

4:17 CAT | 16 Jan 2020

in file CoM

Two analysts consulted by Lusa say Frelimo’s absolute majority in the Mozambican parliament will increase the “arrogance” of the ruling party, and any expectation of parliamentary consensus is “an illusion”.

The Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) dominates Mozambique’s Assembly of the Republic with 184 of the body’s 250 seats, far out numbering the 60 members of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) and the six of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM).

Speaking to Lusa, Fernando Lima, a Mozambican journalist, said all indications were that Frelimo’s “arrogance” would increase over the forthcoming five-year parliamentary cycle, which began on Monday.

“The serious irregularities that occurred in voter registration and the elections and the disdain with which Frelimo reacted to challenges over these anomalies suggest that the arrogance of the ruling party will continue or even intensify,” Lima said.

With its unchallenged grip on the organs of power since the country’s independence in 1975, he continued, Frelimo had shown no willingness to live with the political pluralism established in the Constitution.

Political analyst Juma Aiuba argues that it is an “illusion” to believe that Frelimo will be guided by the search for consensus, despite appeals by the head of state and president of the ruling party, Filipe Nyusi.

“Arrogance is in the genetic code of Frelimo, and, with yet more seats in the Assembly of the Republic, it is an illusion to expect consensus,” Aiuba says.

But Renamo could capitalize on its interlocutor status in the peace process to curb Frelimo’s impulse to dominates, he added.

“President Filipe Nyusi will, to some extent, need Renamo to build and consolidate its peace agenda, and in that case Renamo may seek to contain Frelimo excessive parliamentary hegemony.”

However, he continued, it will not be an easy exercise, as Filipe Nyusi will enter his last term and should focus more on economic issues, the recovery of international aid and control of the succession process under Frelimo’s leadership.

The 250 Assembly of the Republic deputies elected in the general elections of October 15 last year were inaugurated in Maputo on Monday in a ceremony presided over by the head of state.

Source: Lusa