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Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Fradique de Menezes (MDFM-PL) [since 03 September 2001; elected 2001, re-elected 2006] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Tomé Vera Cruz (MDFM-PL) [since 21 April 2006] The Prime Minister is chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president.
National Assembly [unicameral] (55 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1975-1990 One Party State (MLSTP)
1990-1991 Multiparty Transition
1991-        Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 2, Civil Liberties - 2, Status: Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: July 2011
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: March 2010
Political Parties: ADI - Independent Democratic Action (centrist), AVP - Voice of the Population Association, CODO - Democratic Coalition of the Opposition, FDC - Christian Democratic Front, GE - Generation Hope, MDFM - Force for Change Democratic Movement, MLSTP - Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (left-wing, socialist), MLSTP-PSD - Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (left-wing), NR - New Way Movement, PCD-GR - Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (right-wing, conservative), PLS - Social Liberal Party, PPP - Popular Progress Party, PRD - Democratic Renewal Party, PRS - Social Renewal Party, PTS - São Toméan Workers Party, UDD - Union of Democrats for Citizenship and Development, UNDP - National Union for Democracy and Progress.
Coalitions: Force for Change Democratic Movement-Democratic Convergence Party (MDFM-PCD) [Contested the 2002 & 2006 National Assembly Elections] Member parties include the Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party and the Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR); Uê Kédadji (UK) [Contested 2002 National Assembly Election] Member parties include Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO), Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Popular Progress Party (PPP), and the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); [Contested the 2006 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO), Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Popular Progress Party (PPP), Social Renewal Party (PSR), and the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006
Legislative
--Single Party: 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
Constitutional Referendum: 1990
Local/Regional: 2006
 
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe

July 1975 Constituent Assembly Election (16 Seats)

14 May 1980 National People’s Assembly Election (40 Seats)

30 September 1985 National People’s Assembly Election (40 Seats)

Note: Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected president by the Constituent Assembly in 1975, and re-elected by the National People’s Assembly on 14 May 1980 and 30 September 1985.
 
22 August 1990 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Multiparty System, Maximum of two 5-year terms for the President

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 Not Available (N/A)

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

72%

"No" Votes

28%

 
20 January 1991 National People’s Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 Not Available (76.7%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (55)

Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR)

54.4%

33

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)

30.5%

21

Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO)

5.0%

01

Christian Democratic Front (FDC)

1.5%

-

Others

8.6%

-

 
03 March 1991 Presidential Election* 

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 Not Available (60.0%)

Candidate (Party)

% of Votes

Miguel Trovoada**

81.0%

*Trovoada was the sole candidate in the presidential election after the other two candidates, Monso dos Santos (FDC) and Guadalupe de Ceita (Independent) withdrew in February 1991.
**Trovoada was supported by the Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR) and Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO).
 
02 October 1994 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 55,862

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 29,100 (50.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  3,748

Total Valid Votes

 25,352

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (55)

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)

10,782

42.53%

27

Independent Democratic Action (ADI)

6,660

26.27%

14

Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR)

6,235

24.59%

14

Others

1,675

6.61%

-

 
June/July 1996 Presidential Election

First Round (30 June 1996)

Registered Voters

 50,256

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 38,841 (77.3%)

Second Round (21 July 1996)

Registered Voters

 49,606

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 39,020 (78.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,317

Total Valid Votes

 37,703

Candidate (Party)

First Round

Second Round

% of Votes

% of Votes

Miguel Trovoada (ADI)

40.9%

52.74%

Manuel Pinto da Costa (MLSTP-PSD)

39.1%

47.26%

Alda Bandeira (PCD-GR)

14.6%

-

Carlos da Graça

5.4%

-

 
08 November 1998 National Assembly Election [Seats Won by Region]

Registered Voters

 49,639

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 32,108 (64.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  2,923

Total Valid Votes

 29,185

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (55)

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)

14,771

50.61%

31

Independent Democratic Action (ADI)

8,227

28.19%

16

Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR)

4,667

15.99%

08

Christian Democratic Front (FDC)

156

0.53%

-

Others

1,364

4.67%

-

 
29 July 2001 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 67,374

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 47,635 (70.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     703

Total Valid Votes

 46,932

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Fradique de Menezes (ADI)

25,896

55.18%

Manuel Pinto da Costa (MLSTP-PSD)

18,762

39.98%

Carlos Tiny

1,532

3.26%

Victor Monteiro

410

0.87%

Francisco Fortunato Pires

332

0.71%

 
03 March 2002 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 60,961

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 40,412 (66.3%)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (55)

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)

15,618

39.56%

24

Force for Change Democratic Movement-Democratic Convergence Party [MDFM-PCD]

15,542

39.37%

23

Uê Kédadji [UK]

6,398

16.20%

08

São Toméan Workers Party (PTS)*

-

 4.87%

-

Voice of the Population Association (AVP)**

-

-

*The São Toméan Workers Party (PTS) fielded candidates in four electoral districts.
**The Voice of the Population Association (AVP) fielded candidates in one electoral district.
 
26 March 2006 National Assembly Election* [Seats Won by Region]

Registered Voters

 79,849

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (66.9%)

Party/[Coalition]

% of Votes

Number of Seats (55)

Force for Change Democratic Movement-Democratic Convergence Party [MDFM-PCD]

36.79%

23

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)

29.47%

20

Independent Democratic Action (ADI)

20.00%

11

New Way Movement (NR)

4.71%

01

Union of Democrats for Citizenship and Development (UDD)

 

9.03%

-

Christian Democratic Front (FDC)

-

Uê Kédadji [UK]

-

Social Liberal Party (PLS)

-

Generation Hope (GE)

-

São Toméan Workers Party (PTS)

-

*Due to boycotts in some areas on election day, a re-run of the poll took place on 02 April 2006 in 18 electoral districts.
 
30 July 2006 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

91,119

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

59,178 (64.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,638

Total Valid Votes

57,540

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Fradique de Menezes (MDFM-PL) [MDFM-PCD]*

34,859

60.58%

Patrice Trovoada (ADI)**

22,339

38.82%

Nilo Guimarães

342

0.59%

*Fradique de Menezes was also supported by the Social Liberal Party (PLS) and the Christian Democratic Front (FDC).
**Patrice Trovoada was also supported by the following parties: Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), Union of Democrats for Citizenship and Development (UDD), Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO), São Toméan Workers Party (PTS), Popular Progress Party (PPP), Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Social Renewal Party (PSR), and the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP).