1. Opposition Parties and the 2008 Parliamentary Elections in Angola
Inge Amundsen, Chr. Michelsen Institute
Conferência sobre as Eleições em Angola
Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica (CEIC), Universidade Católica de Angola
Terça-Feira, 4 de Novembro de 2008

2. Opposition parties in Angola
Background
CEIC-CMI cooperation
Research project:
Political parties in Angola
Amundsen, Pestana, Weimer, Seamba
CMI Working Paper
Opposition Parties and the Upcoming 2008 Parliamentary Elections in Angola (Bergen, August 2008)

3. Political parties at election
Election day: 5th September 2008
Parties approved by Supreme Court

4. Election results

5. Analysis “Modern” parties lost Ideology and principle no value
(PLD,FPD, AD)
“Traditional” parties won
Regional strongholds necessary
UNITA: Bié, Huambo (Cabinda)
PRS: Lundas/Chokwe people
FNLA: Zaire
ND: ?

6. Why did people vote MPLA?
Peace and reconciliation
History
Pre-election survey
Election campaign
Biased access to resources
Biased access to media
state-controlled radio, television and newspapers
Pressures
Buying of sobas
Election system

7. Election system Favouring regionally based parties
The 5 seats of each province
Clientelism, traditional elites
Illiteracy
Favouring biggest party
Large number of smaller parties
Party splits and manipulations
Easy to register + state subvention system
Ban on parties with less than 0.5% votes
D’Hondt method

8. D’Hondt method Method for allocating seats
Party-list proportional representation systems
Favours large parties over scattered small parties
Example: Cabinda

9. D’Hondt method
Favours regionally based parties over nationally distributed
Example: National constituency/Circulo nationais