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Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Manuel Pinto da Costa [since 3 September 2011; elected 2011] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Patrice Trovoada (ADI) [since 14 February 2008] 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.
Electoral Authority: National Electoral Commission
Political Situation since Independence
1975-1990 One Party State (MLSTP)
1990-1991 Multiparty Transition
1991-        Democracy
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 2, Civil Liberties - 2, Status: Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2016
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2015
Political Parties: ADI - Independent Democratic Action (centrist), AP - Popular Alliance, AVP - Voice of the Population Association, CODO - Democratic Coalition of the Opposition, FDC - Christian Democratic Front, CÓDÓ-MRN - CÓDÓ Party-Movement of National Resurgence, 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), MS - Socialist Movement, 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); National Democratic Confederation-Fêssu Bassóla (CDN-FB) [Contested the 2010 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Popular Progress Party (PPP), and the Social Renewal Party (PSR).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011
Legislative
--Single Party: 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
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

52.910

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

42,333 (80.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  2,381

Total Valid Votes

39,952

Results Number of Votes % of Votes
"Yes" Votes 38,100 95.36%
"No" Votes 1,852 4.64%
 
20 January 1991 National People’s Assembly Election

Registered Voters

51,610

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

39,605 (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%

1

Christian Democratic Front (FDC)

1.5%

-

Others

8.6%

-

 
3 March 1991 Presidential Election* 

Registered Voters

52,618

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

32,523 (61.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  5,919

Total Valid Votes

26,604

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Miguel Trovoada** 26,604 100.00%
*Miguel 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. He received 100.00% of the valid votes cast and 81.80% of the total votes cast in the election.
**Miguel Trovoada was supported by the Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR) and Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO).
 
2 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
Democratic Coalition of the Opposition (CODO) 1,152 4.54% -
Popular Alliance (AP) 342 1.35% -
Christian Democratic Front (FDC) 181 0.71% -
 
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%

-

 
8 November 1998 National Assembly Election [Seats Won by District]

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%

8

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%
 
3 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% 8
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 District]

Registered Voters

79,849

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

53,378 (66.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,293

Total Valid Votes

52,085

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (55)
Force for Change Democratic Movement-Democratic Convergence Party [MDFM-PCD] 19,640 37.07% 23
Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD) 15,733 30.21% 20
Independent Democratic Action (ADI) 10,678 20.50% 11
New Way Movement (NR) 2,515 4.83% 1
Union of Democrats for Citizenship and Development (UDD) 1,156 2.22% -
Christian Democratic Front (FDC) 796 1.53% -
Uê Kédadji [UK] 534 1.03% -
Social Liberal Party (PLS) 413 0.79% -
Generation Hope (GE) 336 0.65% -
São Toméan Workers Party (PTS) 284 0.55% -
*Due to boycotts in some areas on election day, a re-run of the poll took place on 2 April 2006 in 18 electoral districts.
 
30 July 2006 Presidential Election [Results by District]

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).
 
1 August 2010 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

78,798

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

70,136 (89.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,531

Total Valid Votes

68,605

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (55)
Independent Democratic Action (ADI) 29,588 43.13% 26
Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD) 22,510 32.81% 21
Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD-GR) 9,540 13.91% 7
Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party (MDFM-PL) 4,986 7.27% 1
Union of Democrats for Citizenship and Development (UDD) 855 1.25% -
Christian Democratic Front (FDC) 291 0.42% -
Socialist Movement (MS) 260 0.38% -
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 242 0.35% -
National Democratic Confederation-Fêssu Bassóla [CDN-FB] 204 0.30% -
CÓDÓ Party-Movement of National Resurgence (CÓDÓ-MRN) 129 0.19% -
 
July/August 2011 Presidential Election
First Round (17 July 2011) [Results by District]

Registered Voters

92,639

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

63,328 (68.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  3,082

Total Valid Votes

60,246

Second Round (7 August 2011)

Registered Voters

92,639

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

68,640 (74.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  2,192

Total Valid Votes

66,448

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Manuel Pinto da Costa 21,457 35.62% 35,140 52.88%
Evaristo Carvalho (ADI) 13,125 21.79% 31,308 47.12%
Delfim Neves (PCD-GR)* 8,652 14.36% - -
Maria das Neves 8,461 14.04% - -
Elsa Pinto 2,682 4.45% - -
Aurélio Martins (MLSTP-PSD) 2,445 4.06% - -
Filinto Costa Alegre 2,401 3.99% - -
Hélder Barros 414 0.69% - -
Jorge Coelho 401 0.67% - -
Manuel de Deus Lima 208 0.35% - -
*Delfim Neves was also supported by the Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party (MDFM-PL).