Approval of Constitution to set start of third republic

The Constitutional Court (TC) chief judge, Rui Ferreira, said the approval of the Constitution by the National Assembly (Parliament) will set the start of the third Republic. Speaking to Angop, Rui Ferreira said that to him that is the constitution that will kick start the third Republic and set the end of the constitutional transition as, he added, the legislative election of this year did not complete the transformation started in 1991.

Commenting on the role of his court in the new Constitution, the judge said the TC will check the observation of the principles proposed for the future law. "The present Constitution, in its article 159, sets the principles the Constitution must respect. They are independence, territorial integrity, national unity, citizens fundamental rights, lawful State, democracy, laicity of the State, suffrage...," he said. He said there are differences between the Constitution in force and the one being drafted, in the form of organisation, functioning of the State, of the Governing system, of the organs of local power, rights guarantees and citizens freedoms.

On the other hand, Rui Ferreira spoke of the functioning of the TC and its part in the process of reform of justice.
As he stated, as an important and fundamental operator in the country's judicial system, the TC is tasked with showing a good job can be done in order for he justice to be more credible and speedy. The Constitutional Court started its functions in June this year, tasked with securing the constitutionality of the laws, decrees and ratified international treaties and verifying the observation of the Constitution. It is also tasked with ruling on electoral matters, political parties and parliamentary litigation, presidential and parliamentary candidacies, regularity of electoral acts, formation and dismantling of political parties and conflicts within them and matters related to ceasing of parliamentary mandates. (Angola Press Agency)