Legislative elections were held in Angola on 23 August 2017, although voting was delayed until 26 August at 15 polling stations due to bad weather on election day. The top candidate of the winning party automatically becomes President after the election in accordance with the new 2010 Constitution. The ruling partyMPLA headed by João Lourenço was widely expected to win. Preliminary results show that MPLA won with a clear margin. The final results were released on 6 September 2017.
Background
Initially it was thought that long-time President José Eduardo dos Santos would lead the ruling MPLA into the election before possibly stepping down in 2018, but in December 2016 the MPLA designated João Lourenço, the Minister of Defense and Vice-President of the MPLA, as the party's top candidate and therefore its presidential candidate. Lourenço was viewed as strongly loyal to dos Santos. Bornito de Sousa was designated as the party's vice-presidential candidate. In April 2017, the Council of the Republic, which acts as an advisory body to the President, proposed holding the election on 23 August 2017. It was announced on 26 April that dos Santos had formally approved the proposed date. In early July 2017, National Electoral Commission stated that it was expecting 3,000 national and international election observers in the country during the elections. On 21 July 2017, the National Assembly approved legislation that would keep top security officials in place for eight years, thereby preventing presidents from choosing the occupants of those posts at will. The official campaign period ran from 22 July to 21 August.
Electoral system
The 220 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods; 130 are elected by closed list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, with seats allocated proportionally. 90 are elected in 18 five-seat constituencies, using the d'Hondt method. Voters must be at least 18 years old and not have an undischarged bankruptcy, criminal conviction, dual citizenship or have been declared insane. Candidates must be at least 35 years old.
Results
Preliminary results released shortly after the election showed the MPLA with 64.8% of the vote. Final results released by the electoral commission on 6 September 2017 showed the MPLA receiving 61% of the vote, giving it a parliamentary majority of 150 out of 220 seats and ensuring that João Lourenço would become President.
