São Tomé e Principe - Political Parties
The constant infighting, bickering, and political logjams that mark Sao Tome political institutions obscure the fact (or perhaps prove the point) that Sao Tome is something rare in this part of Africa: a functioning democracy. Despite possible vote buying, voters who go to the polls are free to pick any party on the ballot, a point that even constitutes the campaign strategy for some smaller parties (take their money and vote for us...). Campaign spending is reportedly lavish, and accusations of vote buying are routine. The political instability has been provoked by conflicts between government and president and the existence of three or four principal parties, which due to the system of proportional representation impeded absolute majorities and made necessary weak coalition governments or minority governments.
Evaristo Carvalho, 75 in 2016, narrowly lost the last presidential election to Pinto da Costa in 2011. He was prime minister in 1994 and again in 2001-2002, and had also served as president of the national assembly and defense minister. Pinto da Costa ruled the country as a single-party state from independence in 1975 until 1991. He was president again between 2011 and 2016.
Major Parties
MDFM/PCD coalition. The Movimento Democrático Força de Mudança (MDFM), founded in 2001, was the party of President Fradique Menezes (2001-2011) and held 23 seats in the 2006 parliament. Observers and opponents allege the MDFM receives financial support from Nigeria, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Taiwan. The MDFM president was Tome Vera Cruz, and PCD and coalition President was Leonel Mario d'Alva. Former party stalwart and National Assembly Vice President Carlos Neves split with Menezes and left the MDFM to run with the UDD. MDFM won the 2006 legislative elections in an alliance with the PCD, but the MDFM-PCD minority government headed by the leader of the MDFM soon entered into disagreements. Led by João Manuel DA COSTA ALEGRE AFONSO, in the 01 August 2010 election the party gained only one seat.
PCD. Party for Democratic Convergence was led by Leonel Mario D'ALVA, and later by Xavier Mendes, who chaired the party unsuccessfully over the past five years. Following the October 2014 elections, the Partido da Convergência Democrática (PCD) had five seats in parliament. In February 2016, the Partido da Convergência Democrática (PCD), the country's second-largest opposition party, elected Arlindo Carvalho, a medical doctor and former health minister, as its new leader for a four-year term. Led by Leonel Mário DALVA, i the party won 7 seats in the 2010 election.
MLSTP/PSD Party (Note: PSD, "Social Democratic Party," was added to the "Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe" after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The MLSTP/PSD is not a "coalition" like the MDFM and PCD). The party of Prime Minister Maria do Carmo Trovoada Silveira, it held 24 seats in 2006 and controlled parliament in alliance with the ADI. The MLSTP allegedly gets money from China and Angola. Party President was Poser de Costa, and the Vice President was Dionisio Diaz. Following the end of Miguel Trovoada’s ten-year presidency in 2001 his son Patrice has become one of the principal political competitors in São Tomé and Príncipe, while his father retired from national politics. It is widely believed an outright MLSTP win would result in Sao Tome shifting diplomatic recognition back to the PRC from Taiwan. Following the October 2014 elections, the the main opposition party, the Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe-Partido Social Democrata (MLSTP-PSD), had 16 seats in parliament.
ADI. The Acção Democrática Independente (ADI) emerged in 1992 as a breakaway faction of the PCD—has become its major political rival and the country's dominant political force. With five seats in the National Assembly in 2006, the ADI and party President Patrice Trovoada were said to be as flush with campaign funds as the MDFM and MLSTP. The ADI won 33 seats in 2014 vote, up from 11 in 2006. Many observers, confident they knew sources of funding for the MLSTP or the MDFM, were quick to note that "they had no idea" where ADI was getting money. One MLSTP supporter, when pressed, opined that private Nigerian and American oil executives were the likely culprits. ADI suffered some defections in a power struggle between Trovoada and founding members of the party; many key grass-roots organizers supported the UDD. The ADI first appeared in 1992 when due to the increasing conflict between President Trovoada and the ruling PCD his followers left this party and constituted their own one. Consequently, from the beginning, the party has been associated with the personal and political interests of Miguel Trovoada. However, he never formally assumed the party leadership. When Miguel left the presidency after two consecutive five-year terms in 2001, he imposed his son Patrice as party leader. This decision prompted the then ADI leadership to abandon the party. Following the October 2014 elections, the Acção Democrática Independente (ADI), led by Patrice Trovoada, had 33 seats in parliament.
Minor Parties
UDD. A new party with some old names, including Party Vice President Gabriel Costa (a former Prime Minister), and current National Assembly Vice President Carlos Neves. Party President Manuel Diego and Costa both complain that they had no funds to run a campaign, but other observers felt the party may gain a few seats in 2006 behind the political experience of its leaders and help from some skilled campaigners who defected from the ADI. Following the October 2014 elections, the União para a Democracia e Desenvolvimento (UDD) had one seat in parliament.
UE-KEDADJI Coalition. Representing four parties (the PPP, CODO, PRD, and UNDP), UE-KEDADJI held three seats in 2006 and ran with an addition party, the PRS, in the 2006 election. Francisco Silva (PPP) runs the coalition delegation in the Assembly. Other party leaders include Manuel Neves Silva (CODO), Armindo Graca (PRD), Paixao Lima (UNDP), and Hamilton Vaz (PRS). The coalition had limited financial means.
Novo Rumo. The "New Path" is led by Joao Gomes, whose populist rhetoric struck a chord with voters. A long-shot to win more than a few seats, he appears to be one of the more respected politicians in the campaign.
FDC. The party of ex-"Buffalo" Arlecio Costa. The Buffaloes are apartheid-era South African mercenaries, some of whom were implicated in the 2003 coup attempt. At last count 14 ex-Buffalo live in Sao Tome. FDC was unlikely to win a seat in 2006.
PTS. Party President Anicleto Rolin. Unlikely to win a seat in 2006.
GE. Party President Levy Nazare formed the "Generation of Hope" around technocrats and government officials in their twenties and thirties, who want to end the mismanagement of their parents' generation. Nazare complained that big parties will bury the smaller parties with externally-donated funds, and considered dropping out of the election when government campaign funds were not provided (as occurred in some earlier elections). Nazare did not expect to win much support beyond the urban middle class in 2006, but chose to remain in the election to take advantage of broadcast time provided to all parties on state run television and radio to get his message across.
PSL. Party President Augustino Rita. Unlikely to win a seat in 2006.
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