In a significant political development, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) announced on November 13 the appointment of Adao de Almeida as the new president of Parliament, succeeding Carolina Cerqueira. The decision, made in line with the Legislative Assembly’s procedural rules, was promptly submitted to the Assembly for approval. The election and handover ceremony are set to take place this Monday, as per the proposed agenda. The MPLA, which holds a commanding majority with 124 out of 220 seats in the Assembly, anticipates a smooth transition, despite the undisclosed reasons for Cerqueira’s replacement, who has held the position since 2022. Under Angolan law, the president of the National Assembly is elected for each legislative term but can be replaced within that term by the political party or coalition that initially nominated them. Adao de Almeida, a seasoned politician and member of the MPLA’s Political Bureau, brings a wealth of experience, having served as Chief of Staff to the President from 2020 until November 14. Concurrently, Parliament is gearing up to commence the second ordinary plenary session of the fourth legislative term today, with the first debate on the draft General State Budget (PGE) for 2026 on the agenda.