According to the constitution adopted in 2010, the post of prime minister is abolished; executive authority belongs to the president who has also a degree of legislative power, as he can govern by decree.

Agostinho Neto obtained the position when his People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) won control of the country from the Portuguese.

His opponent, Jonas Savimbi of the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) party, claimed that the election was fraudulent.

[2] The Angolan president is elected by double simultaneous first-past-the-post voting for the same five-year term as the assembly, renewable once.

Each participating party nominates a candidate as top of its list, who must be clearly identified on the ballot paper.