2026 São Toméan presidential election
19 July 2026
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| São Tomé and Príncipe portal |
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 19 July 2026.[1][2]
Background
On 6 January 2025, president Carlos Vila Nova dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and his government, citing Trovoada's prolonged absences and his government's failure to solve multiple issues.[3] Trovoada responded calling his dismissal "illegal" and "unconstitutional".[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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 it wouldn't have any retroactive effect rendering the decision meaningless. The majority of the parliament made up of ADI adopted a resolution to keep Ramos in power ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections.[6]
Electoral system
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.[6] The role of president is largely ceremonial, with power in the hands of the prime minister.[7]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ^ "São Tomé and Príncipe: President fires Prime Minister and government". Africanews. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "São Tomé and Príncipe : Ousted Prime Minister Takes Legal Action [Interview]". Africanews. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "São Tomé and Príncipe gets its third prime minister in a week". Macao News. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ^ a b c "Country Profile: Sao Tome and Principe". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Sao Tome holds postponed presidential election". The Guardian (Nigeria). 5 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.