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2026 São Toméan presidential election

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2026 São Toméan presidential election
Image
← 2021
19 July 2026
2031 →
Registered142,191
Turnout40.99%
  Image Image
Nominee Carlos Vila Nova Nito Abreu
Party Independent ADI
Alliance MLSTP–PSD
Popular vote 31,596 23,394
Percentage 55.94% 41.42%
President before election

Carlos Vila Nova
ADI

 Elected President

Carlos Vila Nova
Independent

Presidential elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 19 July 2026.[1][2] Incumbent president Carlos Vila Nova won re-election in the first round, this time running as an independent candidate with a support from MLSTP–PSD, receiving 55.94% of the vote, while his main opposition candidate, Nito Abreu, who was supported by Vila Nova's former party Independent Democratic Action, reached 41.42%.[3] The turnout reached a record low of 41%.

Background

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In the 2021 presidential elections, president Carlos Vila Nova was elected with 58% of the vote, defeating MLSTP–PSD candidate Guilherme Posser da Costa, who took 42% of the vote.[4] In November 2022, the country thwarted a coup attempt that involved at least one member of the officially disbanded South African group Buffalo Battalion.[5]

On 6 January 2025, Vila Nova dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and his government, citing Trovoada's prolonged absences and his government's failure to solve multiple issues.[6] Trovoada responded calling his dismissal "illegal" and "unconstitutional".[7] Vila Nova then selected then Minister of Justice, Ilza Amado Vaz, as prime minister. Vaz then resigned, stating in a letter that her continued leadership "would not contribute to the success of public policies and the harmonious and peaceful development." Vila Nova thereafter picked Américo Ramos, who was not endorsed for the prime ministerial role by the ADI, being criticized for ignoring the majority of the National Assembly.[8]

Since the collapse of Trovoada's government, the ADI has been mired in a leadership crisis, split between Trovoada's faction and a faction led current Prime Minister Américo Ramos backed by Carlos Vila Nova.[9] The Supreme Court of Justice declared that the president's firing of the cabinet was unconstitutional and outside the head of state's powers but that its decision would not have any retroactive effect. The majority of the parliament made up of ADI adopted a resolution to keep Ramos in power ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections.[9]

Electoral system

[edit]

The President of São Tomé and Príncipe is elected using the two-round system for a five-year term. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round of voting, a run-off is held with the top two candidates.[9] The role of president is largely ceremonial, with power in the hands of the prime minister.[10]

A total of 142,191 people were registered for the election, consisting of 121,670 residing in the country and 20,521 in the diaspora.[11]

Candidates

[edit]

In total, 6 candidates filed to run. However, the candidacy of Nino Monteiro, who received the support of MCI–PS, was invalidated by the Constitutional Court in an initial decision on 16 June.[12] An appeal by Monteiro led to the court confirming its decision on 22 June, stating that Monteiro did not meet requirements that he was a citizen of origin, as his parents, from Cape Verde, did not undergo the naturalization process to become Santomean citizens.[13][14]

The former leader of MLSTP–PSD, Jorge Bom Jesus, withdrew from the election after the party decided to support incumbent president Carlos Vila Nova.[15] However, he did that outside the legal deadline and his name remained on the ballot, with votes for him not officially counted.[16]

Candidate Party Notes
Carlos Vila NovaIndependent (with support from MLSTP–PSD)Incumbent President
Nito AbreuIndependent Democratic ActionLeader of ADI parliamentary group
Jorge Bom JesusIndependentFormer leader of MLSTP–PSD
Miques João BonfimIndependentLawyer
Eugénio TinyIndependentDiplomat

Campaign

[edit]

On 3 July, the day before the official campaign period began, president Carlos Vila Nova became the only candidate to sign a non-aggression agreement after the other candidates backed out from signing at the last minute.[17][18] The early days of the campaign period saw Nito Abreu hold rallies in the Agua Grande and Lobata districts, and the disqualified candidate Nino Monteiro also decided to endorse Abreu.[19] Vila Nova also held a rally in the Mé-Zóchi District on 5 July, pledging to be a president of balance.[20][21] Both Vila Nova and Abreu hosted campaign rallies in the Lembá District, with Vila Nova appealing for stability on 6 July and Abreu pledging to fight corruption on 8 July.[22][23]

Lesser candidates also campaigned, with Miques João Bonfim pledging for a living wage, along with development in solar energy and hydroelectric dams.[24] Eugénio Tiny also decided to conduct a door-to-door campaign instead of holding rallies, pledging for structural and administrative reforms.[25]

Conduct

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The European Union deployed an election observation mission, headed by Sérgio Humberto, to oversee electoral processes.[26] The African Union similarly sent its own election observation mission to support preparations leading up to the election.[27][28] The Economic Community of Central African States, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, and the Group of Seven Plus also sent their own missions.[29]

Results

[edit]

The incumbent Carlos Vila Nova secured a second term in office after winning more than 55% of the vote, while the main ADI challenger Nito Abreu secured second place with 41% of the vote.[30] Miques João Bonfim secured third with 1.58% of the vote, while Eugénio Tiny came last with 1.07% of the vote.[31] The abstention rate was a record high of 58.81%, with 79.97% of the diaspora not voting.[32]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Carlos Vila NovaIndependent (MLSTP–PSD)31,59655.94
Nito AbreuIndependent Democratic Action23,39441.42
Miques João BonfimIndependent8921.58
Eugénio TinyIndependent6031.07
Total56,485100.00
Valid votes56,48596.92
Invalid/blank votes1,7963.08
Total votes58,281100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,19140.99
Source: RSTP

Aftermath

[edit]

After securing a second term, Vila Nova pledged to provide unity and expand national development,[33] while also promising to support youth employment and uphold democratic institutions.[34] Abreu conceded defeat following the election, thanking his supporters who voted for him while also regretting high abstention rates.[35]

References

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  1. ↑ Neto, Ricardo (2026-01-24). "Presidente marca eleições presidenciais para 19 de Julho e legislativas, regional e autárquicas para 27 de Setembro". STP-PRESS (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  2. ↑ "PR são-tomense marca presidenciais para 19 de julho e legislativas para 27 de setembro". Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (in Portuguese). 2026-01-23. Archived from the original on 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  3. ↑ "Carlos Vila Nova reeleito Presidente de São Tomé e Príncipe". RFI (in Portuguese). 20 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "São Tomé: Carlos Vila Nova vence presidenciais com 57,54% dos votos". Observador (in Portuguese). 6 September 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "4 Killed in Sao Tome's Failed Coup Bid, State Media Reports". VOA. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe: President fires Prime Minister and government". Africanews. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe : Ousted Prime Minister Takes Legal Action [Interview]". Africanews. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe gets its third prime minister in a week". Macao News. 13 January 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
  9. 1 2 3 "Country Profile: Sao Tome and Principe". IFES Election Guide. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Sao Tome holds postponed presidential election". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 5 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  11. ↑ Carlos, Maximino (19 July 2026). "Dia D para as Eleições Presidenciais em São Tomé e Príncipe". RFI (in Portuguese).
  12. ↑ Carlos, Maximino (16 June 2026). "São Tomé e Príncipe: Cinco candidatos confirmados à Presidência". RFI (in Portuguese).
  13. ↑ "São Tomé/Eleições: TC confirma rejeição de candidatura de Domingos Monteiro às presidenciais". Correio da Manhã Canadá (in Portuguese). 22 June 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Egbejule, Eromo (19 July 2026). "São Tomé and Príncipe heads to polls in tense presidential election". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2026. Monteiro was born on the island, but his parents never became naturalised citizens after moving from Cape Verde where they were born.
  15. ↑ Carlos, Maximino (18 June 2026). "MLSTP declara apoio a Carlos Vila Nova e anuncia desistência de Jorge Bom Jesus". RFI (in Portuguese).
  16. ↑ "Bom Jesus desiste da corrida às presidenciais de 19 de julho". Téla Nón (in Portuguese). 29 June 2026. Archived from the original on 30 June 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026. A decisão ocorre fora do prazo legalmente estipulado e numa altura em que o Tribunal Constitucional já procedeu ao sorteio da ordem dos candidatos no boletim de voto.
  17. ↑ "Apenas Carlos Vila Nova assina pacto de não agressão da Comissão Eleitoral". Observador (in Portuguese). 3 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Comissão Eleitoral promove pacto de não agressão: apenas Vila Nova subscreve". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 3 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  19. ↑ ""Nossa vez de fazer diferente" começou no cruzamento de Amparo II". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 5 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026. O partido MCI liderado por Nino Monteiro que defende os filhos da roça declarou apoio ao candidato Nito Abreu, e marcou presença no segundo dia de campanha na roça Agostinho Neto.
  20. ↑ "Carlos Vila Nova quer ser reeleito para garantir estabilidade e união em São Tomé". Observador (in Portuguese). 5 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  21. ↑ ""Primeiro São Tomé e Príncipe" rugiu em Lembá". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 5 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Carlos Vila Nova em Lembá com apelo à paz e união". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 6 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Nito Abreu em Lembá garante ser um presidente que acima de tudo respeita as leis". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 8 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Candidato Miques João promete luz e salário digno". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 8 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Sem camisolas nem comícios, Eugénio Tiny aposta no contacto direto para conquistar eleitores". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 8 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Cascais, Antonio (18 July 2026). "Amid elections, Sao Tome and Principe balances global powers". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 21 July 2026. The European Union is once again deploying an election observation mission. Its chief observer, Portuguese member of the European Parliament Sergio Humberto, said the mission aims to help ensure a transparent and peaceful electoral process.
  27. ↑ "A União Africana envia missão para apoiar STP nos preparativos das eleições gerais". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 29 April 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "União Africana reforça competências da comunicação social e da sociedade para as eleições gerais de 2026". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "142.674 eleitores chamados às urnas para eleger o Presidente da República sob a observação de 5 missões internacionais". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 19 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe's President Vila Nova projected to win second term". Africanews. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Eleições em São Tomé: Nito d'Abreu reconhece derrota, assinala irregularidades e lamenta abstenção". Observador (in Portuguese). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "Abstenção recorde de 58,81% marca reeleição de Vila Nova em São Tomé e Príncipe: "Preocupa e não nos podemos conformar"". Observador (in Portuguese). 20 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Carlos Vila Nova promete ser o Presidente de todos os são-tomenses". RFI (in Portuguese). 20 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Carlos Vila Nova reeleito: apelo à união e compromisso com o futuro". Tela Non (in Portuguese). 20 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Eleições em São Tomé: Nito d'Abreu reconhece derrota, assinala irregularidades e lamenta abstenção". Observador (in Portuguese). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
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