Parliamentary elections were held in Angola in 1980, the first elections following independence from Portugal in 1975. The country was a one-party state, with the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola – Labour Party (MPLA-PT) as the sole legal party. Non-party candidates were vetted to ensure that they were not elected to the colleges.[1] As a result, all 229 elected MPs were from the MPLA–PT.
The elections were held on an indirect two-stage basis. Beginning on 23 August, voters elected electoral colleges, which in turn elected 229 candidates to the National Assembly.[2] All Angolan citizens with 18 years of age were eligible to vote in the first stage of the elections, except those who were members of factional groups, had a criminal record and who had not been rehabilitated. Candidates were expected to be answerable to the citizens in public meetings, with their candidature approved by a majority in the province where they were getting nominated.[2]
The 229 representatives included 64 civil servants, 58 workers, 48 peasants, 20 members of defense or security forces, 7 intellectuals, 6 elements of state apparatus and 26 others.[2]
The newly elected parliament convened for the first time on 11 November 1980.[2]