Proposal to amend Angolan passport law passes in special proceedings

The Working Committees of the National Assembly approved today, the 12th, in particular, the Proposed Law to Amend Law No. 22/21, of October 18th, which regulates the Angolan Passport and the Exit and Entry Regime for National Citizens. Under the coordination of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee (1st CTE), the exercise was marked by a sharp debate in favor of the coverage of the diplomatic passport for former deputies.
The diploma aims to expand the range of beneficiaries of the diplomatic passport, including retired attorneys general of the Republic, retired superior court advisor judges and retired deputy attorneys general.

“It was a normal meeting, but the result went a little against what the deputies intended,” said deputy Manuel Domingos da Fonseca.

The parliamentarian further explained that, although the bill does not explicitly mention former deputies as beneficiaries of the diplomatic passport, the Deputy Statute guarantees this right.

“From a legal point of view, they have the right to a diplomatic passport, but, in practice, this does not happen”, he warned, referring to the difficulties faced by former deputies.

In turn, deputy Milonga Bernardo considered the debate “quite heated and it was normal for this to occur”. According to the parliamentarian, the organic law of the National Assembly already takes care of the situation of former deputies, and there is no legal vacuum.

“I think it is also a situation that, based on the magistrates’ statute itself, ends up responding to this concern”, he added, classifying the working day as productive.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary of State for the Interior and other figures from the Executive Branch, who defended the proposal, which now goes to a final global vote on the 20th.

Source: https://parlamento.ao/