The 14 million Angolans who go to the polls this Wednesday (24) will determine not only the course of their country, but also the course of the Universal Church and RecordTV in that country.
Therefore, the crest of the church and the TV station are very attentive to the result, as it can seal the fate of these two “brands” or institutions, not only in Angola, but throughout Africa.
Over the past two years, Universal and its local RecordTV “subsidiary” have come under Angola’s wrath and have faced many serious charges (such as money laundering) from the faithful and pastors. The station there was closed. The church has always denied any wrongdoing.
Leadership and temples were taken over by Angolan priests. Brazilians were basically removed from power. There were even threats of confrontation among the faithful for and against the leadership of the leader Edir Macedo.
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However, the Justice there acquitted almost all the defendants except Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves (former boss boss in Brazil). But even his sentence was superficial.
Despite this, the Brazilian religion persisted without returning to power and was unable to reopen RecordTV either.
The Angolan election will determine what strategy Edir Macedo’s envoys will use to regain the power taken from them. After all, the church, with its rites and hierarchy, is an established entity and has been the target of a “revolt” in another country.
stones on the road
Angola has only two candidates for the presidency: current president João Lourenço, re-election candidate (MPLA); and Unita’s Adalberto Costa Jr.
The MPLA has been in power for nearly fifty years, but polls suggest that for the first time, the opposition has a chance to win.
The problem for Brazilians is that Costa Jr. Lourenço also does not seem to be sympathetic to the Brazilian religious organization.
But post-election may be a chance for the reopening of dialogue and the acceptance of the church, which is said to be discriminated against by its local beliefs and a target of xenophobia.
Universal has flourished in Angola over the decades thanks to its excellent relationship with dictator José Eduardo dos Santos (also MPLA).
With his fall and Lourenço’s rise, things started to go wrong.
In terms of revenue alone, Angolan prosecutors estimate Universal takes around $120 million a year abroad (the church has always denied this).
The truth is, Angola was also important to RecordTV, according to sources the columnist heard in recent months.
Some of Angola’s money was used by the church to invest in media in Brazil, including its own station in Barra Funda.
There are many Brazilian things and businesses at stake in a single election that took place in another country.
Ricardo Feltrin also twitterFacebook, Instagram and Ooops website
source: Noticias
