BUTAfter a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Tete António, President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refused to comment on the results of the elections in the country, arguing that the electoral process is still ongoing.

Accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, João Gomes Cravinho, the head of state is in Luanda not only to attend the funeral ceremonies of the former President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, but also to attend the funeral with various rulers of the Community countries. Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP).

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in the Angolan capital, the president added that he would be “working all day with the bilateral, with the heads of state of the brotherly countries of the Union of Right Forces”, refusing to comment on the preliminary results of the Angolan elections, which give the victory of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).

“Since the electoral process is underway, which I would not do in my country, […] I will not do this here, in this sister state where I came for the funeral, ”he said, noting that this topic was not touched upon in a conversation with Tete Antóniou.

“We didn’t really talk [dos resultados eleitorais]. We talked about the ceremony of a very rich program for the Angolan authorities in terms of the funeral” in the coming days, as well as “President José Eduardo dos Santos and the meaning of the tribute”, which will begin this Saturday.

Marcelo assured that he also intends to “welcome, welcome the brotherly people of Angola.”

“Every time I come here, I feel at home,” he admitted, noting also “all those who contributed to the calm of the pre-election debate, [que] should be a normal moment of democratic experience.”

According to the president, meetings are already scheduled with the heads of state of Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, which will take place in the coming days.

Recall that in the general elections in Angola, the MPLA won with 51.07% of the vote, followed by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) with 44.05% of the vote, the National Electoral Commission (NCC) of Angola announced, when 97.3% polling stations were checked.

Preliminary results were released on Thursday by CNE spokesman Lucas Quilundo at a time when 97.3% of polling stations were being scrutinized, so there shouldn’t be any major changes, he said.

However, UNITA leader Adalberto Costa Junior did not recognize the MPLA’s victory in Wednesday’s general election and called on an international commission to compare the party’s election results with those of the CNE.

See also: Marcelo intends to talk with politicians in Angola