A record 25 groups have submitted nomination signatures to stand in the upcoming direct election of 14 seats in the legislature by popular vote, while six groups have submitted nomination signatures for the indirect election whose 12 seats will be chosen by registered association representatives, official data showed Tuesday.
The direct and indirect legislative elections will take place on September 17.
According to a statement by the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Committee (CAEAL), the committee received a total of 31 applications for forming a candidacy nomination committee, 25 for the direct and six for the indirect elections.
The committee also said that so far only six of the 25 groups have been approved to stand in the direct election.
The statement did not identify the groups. According to the committee’s website, CAEAL officials will inform the remaining 19 groups’ representatives by next Thursday about the committee’s decision on whether their applications have been approved.
Four years ago, the committee received 22 groups’ applications to stand in the direct election, but only 20 were approved.
Customarily, in the indirect election the number of groups running for the 12 seats at stake has equalled the number of sectors, officially known as electoral colleges, i.e. five groups for five sectors. Consequently, the indirect elections have traditionally been a foregone conclusion.
The five indirect election sectors comprise social services and education (1 seat); labour (2 seats); professionals (3 seats), commerce and finance (4 seats); and culture and sport (2 seats).
However, the indirect election in September would break the long-standing “tradition” if all the six group’s applications are accepted by the government since there would then be six groups vying for seats set aside for five sectors.
Meanwhile the Ponto Final newspaper said today that deputy Leonel Alves decided not to stand for another term.
Leonel Alves have been deputy for 33 years.
