Mozambique’s top court confirms election result after months of protest
GuardianDEC 22 2024
Mozambique Top Court Confirms Ruling Party's Victory
Above: Dancers perform on stage as supporters gather beside a billboard of Daniel Chapo during a campaign rally in Machava on Oct. 6, 2024. Image copyright: MARCO LONGARI/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Mozambique's top court proclaimed Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party president-elect on Monday, confirming that he won the disputed Oct. 9 presidential election with 65% of the vote — less than the 70% previously reported.
The Constitutional Council further announced that Frelimo, which has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, secured 171 seats to win a parliamentary majority. Podemos, Renamo, and MDM obtained 79 seats combined.
This comes as presidential candidates for the three opposition parties denounced election results amid widespread allegations of vote irregularities, which the council claimed were insufficient to annul the elections.
The Spin
Narrative A
It's up to Mozambique's Constitutional Council—not to Mondlane and his supporters—to proclaim the winner of the presidential election, so the nation must accept this decision. The opposition is committing a dangerous act of irresponsibility as it pushes the country into chaos to try to overturn legitimate election results.
Narrative B
This court ruling has further aggravated the situation, with Mozambique on the brink of a civil war over the Oct. 9 presidential election results. People are fed up with Frelimo, and stability will only be restored if the ever-ruling party accepts that only a national unity government can ease tensions.
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