GOVERNMENT
Following the promulgation of a new constitution in 1990, Sao Tome and Principe held multiparty elections for the first time since independence. Shortly after the constitution took effect, the National Assembly formally legalized opposition parties. Independent candidates also were permitted to participate in the January 1991 legislative elections. The 55-member National Assembly is the supreme organ of the state and the highest legislative body. Its members are elected for a 4-year term and meet semiannually.
The president of the republic is elected to a 5-year term by direct universal suffrage and a secret ballot, and may hold office up to two consecutive terms. Candidates are chosen at their party's national conference or individuals may run independently. A presidential candidate must obtain an outright majority of the popular vote in either a first or second round of voting in order to be elected president. The prime minister is named by the president but must be ratified by the majority party and thus normally comes from a list of its choosing. The prime minister, in turn, names the 14 members of the Cabinet.
Justice is administered at the highest level by the Supreme Court. Formerly responsible to the National Assembly, the judiciary is now independent under the current constitution.
Administratively, the country is divided into seven municipal districts, six on Sao Tome and one comprising Principe. Governing councils in each district maintain a limited number of autonomous decision-making powers, and are reelected every 5 years.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Since the
constitutional reforms of 1990 and the elections of 1991, Sao
Tome has made great strides toward developing its democratic
institutions and further guaranteeing the civil and human rights
of its citizens. Sao Tomeans have freely changed their government
through peaceful and transparent elections. And while there
have been disagreements and political conflicts within the branches
of government and the National Assembly, the debates have been
carried out and resolved in open, democratic, and legal fora,
in accordance with the provisions of Sao Tomean law. A number
of political parties actively participate in government and
openly express their views. Freedom of the press is respected,
and there are several independent newspapers in addition to
the government bulletin. The government's respect for human
rights is exemplary; the government does not engage in repressive
measures against its citizens, and respect for individuals'
rights to due process and protection from government abuses
is widely honored. Freedom of expression is accepted, and the
government has taken no repressive measures to silence critics.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes
Prime Minister--Patrice Trovoada
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance--Maria dos Santos Tebus Torres
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation--Ovidio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno
Minister of Defense and Internal Affairs--Lt. Col. Oscar Aguiar Sacramento e Sousa
Representative at the United Nations and to the United States--To be named
The Sao
Tome and Principe Mission to the United Nations, which also
is the Sao Tomean Embassy to the United States, is located at
400 Park Avenue, 7th floor, New York, NY 10022 (tel. 212-317-0580;
email stp@un.int).
Type:
Republic.
Independence: July 12, 1975 (from Portugal).
Constitution: November 5, 1975; revised September
1990, following a national referendum, revised again January 2003.
Branches: Executive--president and prime minister.
Legislative--National Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: Seven counties,
six on Sao Tome and one on Principe.
Political parties: Movement for the Liberation
of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Party of Democratic Convergence
(PCD), Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI), Democratic Movement
Force of Change (MDFM), Christian Democratic Front-Socialist Union
Party (FDC-PSU), Santomean Workers Party (PTS); Popular Party
of Progress (PPP), and National Union for Democracy and Progress
(UNDP).
Suffrage: Universal adult.
