Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Template:Short description Template:Portuguese name Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life and education
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos was born in Luanda, Portuguese Angola to parents emigrating to Angola from São Tomé and Príncipe.Template:Cn Piedade is a cousin of President José Eduardo dos Santos.Template:Citation needed He obtained a BA in Law in 2009 at Agostinho Neto University in Angola.Template:Cn
Career
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.Template:Cn
After having served as Interior Minister since 1999, Piedade was appointed prime minister in November 2002 and took office on 6 December 2002. The office of prime minister had previously been unoccupied for three years.Template:Cn
Piadade was the 14th candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 legislative election.<ref>"Eleições: Lista integral dos candidatos do MPLA, antigo PM Marcolino Moco fora, nova cara Akwá" Template:Webarchive, Angola Xyami, 5 July 2008 Template:In lang.</ref><ref name=CNE>List of deputies elected in the 2008 election, CNE website Template:In lang.</ref> In the election, the MPLA won an overwhelming majority, and Piedade was elected to a seat in the National Assembly.<ref name=CNE/>
Following the 2008 election, the MPLA Political Bureau chose Piedade to become the president of the National Assembly on 26 September 2008. It also chose Paulo Kassoma to replace Piedade as prime minister.<ref>"MPLA indica Fernando da Piedade para presidente da Assembleia Nacional" Template:Webarchive, Angola Press, 26 September 2008 Template:In lang.</ref><ref>"Angola: Paulo Kassoma confirmado como primeiro-ministro do próximo governo angolano" Template:Webarchive, Lusa, 26 September 2008 Template:In lang.</ref> On 30 September, 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.<ref>"Eleito novo presidente da Assembleia Nacional" Template:Webarchive, AngolaPress, 30 September 2008 Template:In lang.</ref>
On 21 January 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".<ref>Henrique Almeida, "Angolan president seen stronger in new constitution", Reuters, 21 January 2010.</ref> President dos Santos then appointed Piedade to the newly established office of Vice-President of Angola on 3 February 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.<ref>"Angolan president reshuffles govt after new charter", Reuters, 4 February 2010.</ref>
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.<ref>Christophe Boisbouvier, "Angola : Manuel Vicente, l'homme du président dos Santos", Jeune Afrique, 8 February 2012 Template:In lang.</ref><ref>Shrikesh Laxmidas, "Oilman Vicente waits in Angola presidential wings", Reuters, 1 February 2012.</ref> 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.<ref>"President Eduardo dos Santos leads party's list" Template:Webarchive, Angola Press Agency, 13 June 2012.</ref> Following the MLPA's victory in the 2012 legislative election, Vicente took office as Vice President on 26 September 2012, succeeding Piedade.<ref>"Manuel Vicente inaugurated as Vice-president of Republic", Angola Press Agency, 26 September 2012.</ref> On 27 September 2012, Piedade was instead elected as President of the National Assembly.<ref>"Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos elected Speaker of National Assembly" Template:Webarchive, Angola Press Agency, 27 September 2012.</ref>
Personal life
Template:Expand section He is married to Maria Tomé Dias dos Santos and they have 7 children.Template:Cn
References
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