Angola has changed its Constitution, and in so doing has transformed the way by which the country will choose its president. The country will no longer hold direct elections for president, instead giving the presidency to the leader of the parliamentary party with the most seats. In theory this is not, as critics claim, anti-democratic. Indeed such an approach is in keeping with parliamentary systems around the world. But it seems anti-democratic, which is, admittedly, a perception problem.
But that problem is made worse by the decision of UNITA, the main opposition party, to boycott the vote. Furthermore, while the new system will grant the president only two five-year terms, that process will not kick in until the 2012 presidential election. The current president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is Africa’s second longest-serving leader, having been in power since 1979. He will now be able to serve until 2022. Suddenly the concerns of the critics have more heft.
