OPINION:

The president of ANP (Assembleia Nacional Popular) “Cipriano Cassamá” is not a corrupt politician but a radical who is prepared to defend his party (PAIGC) under the aspire of Domingos Simões Pereira.

PAIGC won the 2014 legislative election with 57 deputies well above the 51 deputies required to pass any vote at the parliament. 

But internal strife due to many unresolved crisis with the party leader, (Domingos Simões Pereira) led to expulsion of 15 deputies. 

The party now left with 42 deputies finds it difficult to pass any program at the parliament. 

Meanwhile, the 15 deputies expelled from PAIGC have allied with the opposition party (PRS) with 41 deputies leading to a new majority of 41 + 15 = 56 deputies; which can easily pass any program at the parliament. 

However, PAIGC with the help of Cipriano Cassamá, the president of ANP (Assembleia Nacional Popular) have blocked all session of the parliament for almost a year, leading to the inability of the previous government of Baciro Dja to present his government program for deliberation; subsequently resulting to dissolution of his government. 

After the nomination of Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo as the new PM in accordance with the ECOWAS meditated agreement with all parts involved in the crises; it is a good signal, if Cipriano Cassamá feels that his standpoint has negatively affected the entire population of his country; he was suppose to protect; and has decided to reconsider his position and allow the parliament to deliberate on Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo’s executive program.

Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo has vowed exchange of ideas with all parts involved in the crises.

The question is; how far can Cipriano Cassamá resist his party’s principle of blocking the parliamentary session if they (PAIGC) refuse to back the PM? 

And what can the PR and present PM do about the blockage?

Jessica Kerry