Moz parties lose poll bid
2009-09-29 12:36
Maputo - The Mozambican Constitutional Council has dismissed claims by 14 political parties that they were unfairly excluded from the upcoming elections, a report said on Tuesday.
The state controlled daily Noticias said the parties had claimed they were unfairly excluded from the October 28 elections by the national election commission (CNE). The parties had sought the intervention of the Constitutional Council after the CNE had said candidates for the presidential, legislative and provincial parliament had submitted incomplete nomination papers.
The exclusion of the 14 parties generated much controversy as local political commentators and western diplomats accredited to Mozambique alleged the move was unconstitutional.
However, CNE president Leopoldo da Costa insisted he was following the electoral laws and could not bend laws to accommodate parties which had submitted incomplete nomination papers.
Mozambique will hold presidential, national and provincial parliamentary elections on October 28.
Current president Armando Emilio Guebuza will stand as the presidential candidate on the ruling Frelimo ticket against Daviz Simango from the Mozambique Democratic Movement and Afonso Dhlakama from the main opposition party Renamo.
- SAPA
