MAPUTO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique's Constitutional Council (CC) has approved four candidates for the October presidential elections.
Out of 11 applicants, only Daniel Chapo of the ruling party Frelimo, Ossufo Momade of the main opposition party Renamo, Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), and Venancio Mondlane of the newly formed Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD) were validated.
In an official statement released on Monday, the CC judges confirmed that the approved candidates met all constitutional and legal requirements.
"Daniel Chapo, Ossufo Momade, Lutero Simango and Venancio Mondlane are advancing to the electoral contest, representing the main parties and coalitions in the country," the CC statement said.
The remaining seven would-be candidates from minor parties were not approved by the CC. The reasons cited include insufficient supporting signatures and failures to meet formal and material requirements.
"The judges detailed that during the verification process, there were significant irregularities in the rejected applications," the document states.
The thorough verification process was essential to ensure the authenticity of signatures and compliance with electoral requirements, the CC added.
"The approval of the candidates comes at a crucial moment for Mozambican democracy, with attention focused on the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. International observers will closely monitor the elections, which are seen as an important test for political stability in the region," the council said. ■