Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
President of the National Assembly
In office
27 September 2012 – 15 September 2022
Preceded byPaulo Kassoma
Succeeded byCarolina Cerqueira
In office
30 September 2008 – 9 February 2010
Preceded byRoberto Francisco de Almeida
Succeeded byPaulo Kassoma
Vice President of Angola
In office
18 February 2010 – 26 September 2012
PresidentJosé Eduardo dos Santos
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byManuel Vicente
Prime Minister of Angola
In office
6 December 2002 – 30 September 2008
PresidentJosé Eduardo dos Santos
Preceded byF. J. de F. Dias Van-Dúnem (1999)
Succeeded byPaulo Kassoma
Minister of the Interior
In office
29 January 1999 – 6 December 2002
Preceded bySantana André Pitra
Succeeded byO. de J. Serra Van-Dúnem
Personal details
Born (1950-03-05) 5 March 1950
Luanda, Portuguese Angola
Political partyMPLA
SpouseMaria Tomé Dias dos Santos
Children7
Alma materAgostinho Neto University

Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos (born 5 March 1950), known as Nandó, is an Angolan politician who was the first vice president of Angola from February 2010 to September 2012. He was the prime minister of Angola from 2002 to 2008 and president of the National Assembly of Angola from 2008 to 2010. He has again served as president of the National Assembly from 2012 to 2022.[1]

Background

Piedade is a cousin of President José Eduardo dos Santos. His parents emigrated to Angola from São Tomé and Príncipe. He obtained a BA in Law in 2009 at Agostinho Neto University in Angola.

In 1971, Piedade joined the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). Following Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975 he began a career in the People's Police Corps of Angola, becoming a division head in 1978. In 1981 he moved to the Ministry of the Interior, becoming Deputy Minister in 1984. The following year he was elected as a member of the MPLA-Workers' Party congress and given the rank of colonel in the Angolan military. He later became a member of the People's Assembly, beginning a succession of appointments to government ministerial posts.

After having served as Interior Minister since 1999, Piedade was appointed as Prime Minister in November 2002 and took office on December 6, 2002. The office of Prime Minister had previously been unoccupied for three years.

Piadade was the 14th candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 legislative election.[2][3] In the election, the MPLA won an overwhelming majority, and Piedade was elected to a seat in the National Assembly.[3]

Following the 2008 election, the MPLA Political Bureau chose Piedade to become the President of the National Assembly on September 26, 2008. It also chose Paulo Kassoma to replace Piedade as Prime Minister.[4][5] On September 30, the newly elected members of the National Assembly met and were sworn in; Piedade was elected as President of the National Assembly on this occasion, receiving 211 votes in favor and three opposed.[6]

On January 21, 2010, the National Assembly approved a new constitution that would increase presidential powers, eliminate the office of Prime Minister, and eliminate popular elections for the office of President. Piedade described the National Assembly's adoption of the constitution as a "historic moment".[7] President dos Santos then appointed Piedade to the newly established office of Vice-President of Angola on February 3, 2010. Having long served as a close and powerful associate of dos Santos, his appointment as Vice-President made it appear more likely that he was being envisioned as the eventual successor to dos Santos. However, dos Santos had already been designated as the MPLA candidate for President in 2012, suggesting that he had no intention of retiring.[8]

In 2012, Manuel Vicente, who had headed the state oil company Sonangol, was believed to have been selected by the President as his likely successor.[9][10] Vicente was designated as the second candidate on the MPLA's list of parliamentary candidates, making him the party's nominee for the post of Vice-President.[11] Following the MLPA's victory in the 2012 legislative election, Vicente took office as Vice President on 26 September 2012, succeeding Piedade.[12] A day later, on 27 September 2012, Piedade was instead elected as President of the National Assembly.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Dados biográficos do vice- presidente da República de Angola" (in Portuguese). ANGOP Angolan News Agency. 8 Feb 2010. Retrieved 8 Mar 2019.
  2. ↑ "Eleições: Lista integral dos candidatos do MPLA, antigo PM Marcolino Moco fora, nova cara Akwá" Archived 2008-08-18 at the Wayback Machine, Angola Xyami, July 5, 2008 (in Portuguese).
  3. 1 2 List of deputies elected in the 2008 election, CNE website (in Portuguese).
  4. ↑ "MPLA indica Fernando da Piedade para presidente da Assembleia Nacional" Archived 2008-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Angola Press, September 26, 2008 (in Portuguese).
  5. ↑ "Angola: Paulo Kassoma confirmado como primeiro-ministro do próximo governo angolano" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Lusa, 26 September 2008 (in Portuguese).
  6. ↑ "Eleito novo presidente da Assembleia Nacional" Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, AngolaPress, September 30, 2008 (in Portuguese).
  7. ↑ Henrique Almeida, "Angolan president seen stronger in new constitution", Reuters, January 21, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Angolan president reshuffles govt after new charter", Reuters, 4 February 2010.
  9. ↑ Christophe Boisbouvier, "Angola : Manuel Vicente, l'homme du président dos Santos", Jeune Afrique, 8 February 2012 (in French).
  10. ↑ Shrikesh Laxmidas, "Oilman Vicente waits in Angola presidential wings", Reuters, 1 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "President Eduardo dos Santos leads party's list" Archived 2012-12-29 at archive.today, Angola Press Agency, 13 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "Manuel Vicente inaugurated as Vice-president of Republic", Angola Press Agency, 26 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos elected Speaker of National Assembly" Archived 2012-12-29 at archive.today, Angola Press Agency, 27 September 2012.
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