On Monday, Mozambique’s parliament convened to swear in deputies for the country’s 10th legislature following the general elections held on October 9, 2024.
The ceremony, presided over by President Filipe Nyusi, saw the inauguration of 210 out of the 250 elected deputies.
The ruling FRELIMO party retained a commanding majority with 171 seats, while the PODEMOS party secured 39 seats. Notably absent were members of the main opposition party, RENAMO, and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, who boycotted the ceremony in protest over alleged irregularities in the election process.
During the event, Margarida Talapa was sworn in as the new speaker of parliament. She vowed to meet citizens' expectations during this politically sensitive time. President Nyusi called on the legislators to act with a "patriotic spirit" and align their work with the aspirations of the Mozambican people.
"It is through your leadership that we will shape a prosperous, peaceful, and democratic Mozambique," Nyusi said, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and stability in the nation.
He urged the legislature to focus on key political and legal reforms to address socio-political and economic challenges.
Protests broke out in Mozambique immediately following the electoral commission's announcement of the preliminary results from the presidential and parliamentary elections held last October. The commission stated that the ruling FRELIMO party and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, had won.