Angola has a new press law

The majority party, the MPLA (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola), voted in favor of a law that will regulate the media. Rui Falcão of the MPLA said that law is “in agreement with the current state of Angolan society.” He said that the law mirrors the expectations of Angolan journalists, whose input was given by the journalists’ union.
UNITA (the opposition party) opposed the law, on the grounds that it threatens democracy and freedom of the press.
UNITA said in a statement that “this law does not meet Angolans’ aspirations for liberty that because it doesn’t remove the obstacles to free and equal information.”
The party said that further, “because we believe in full democracy with a free press, we will continue to seek a press law based on consensus.” In addition, “the strengthening of democracy in Angola is a great challenge and the strategic objective of a free, non-partisan press is the main instrument toward that end.”
Alexandre Solombe, assembly member from the black rooster (galo negro) group (UNITA), mentioned the statement of the CEAST (Conference of Catholic Bishops), which suggested the revision of some aspects of the press law, in order to conform to democratic principles.
Contrary to the majority of UNITA members, 16 party members voted in favor of the law, and should be substituted. The PLD (Liberal Democratic Party) abstained from voting, and said through a spokesperson of the party leader, Anália de Victoria Pereira, that the government should treat the Angolan Catholic Broadcasting Network (Radio Ecclesia) differently tha it has been, and allow the expansion of its signal throughout the country.
The FNLA party voted against the law, claiming not to be beholden to the lines C and G of article 74, which they say other parties “are addicted to.” In their view, these dispositions “seek to penalize those who combat corruption and encourage the authors of these crimes.”