Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe
Encyclopedia
The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD) or Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata, in Portuguese
, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe
. Aurélio Martins
is the current president of the party.
in Africa. The CLSTP was set up by exiles who eventually established their base in nearby Gabon
. Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa
, who would eventually become President of an independent São Tomé and Príncipe, was the leader of the party. In 1972, the CLSTP became the MLSTP.
After the April 1974 Carnation Revolution
in Portugal
, the new government agreed to hand over power to the MLSTP. Later that year, the MLSTP was recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Santomean people.
and the MLSTP won all 16 of its seats.
Independence was achieved on July 12, 1975, with Manuel Pinto da Costa as President and Miguel Trovoada
as Prime Minister. The constitution promulgated on December 12, 1975, effectively vested absolute power in the President and the MLSTP became the nation's sole legal political party.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, the party's socialist orientation and in turn the nation developed strong ties with Cuba
, the People's Republic of China
, the German Democratic Republic
, and the Soviet Union
.
, after a debate at the national party conference.
A democratic constitution introduced by the MLSTP Central Committee was approved overwhelmingly in an August 1990 referendum.
At the MLSTP Party Congress in October 1990, Carlos Graça was appointed as the new Secretary-General, in succession to Manuel Pinto da Costa. In addition, the party's name was amended to the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).
In an extraordinary Congress of the MLSTP/PSD held in May 1998, Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected unopposed as President of the party, a post that he held until 2005.
At the party's Fourth Congress, Guilherme Posser da Costa
, a former Prime Minister, was elected as President of the MLSTP-PSD on 27 February 2005, succeeding Pinto da Costa. There were 708 votes in favor of Posser da Costa, who was the only candidate, and three votes against him. As of June 2008, the President of the MLSTP/PSD is Joaquim Rafael Branco
.
In June 2008, after Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada
of the Independent Democratic Action
(ADI) party was defeated in a vote of no confidence, President Fradique de Menezes
asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government, and it chose Branco to become the next Prime Minister. The ADI denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional, arguing that it was too late in the parliamentary term to do so, and it took the matter to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.
The Current president of the MLSTP-PSD, Aurelio Martins, was elect in day 15 of January of 2011 in the V Usual Congress of the Party.
Today the MLSTP/PSD has friendly relations with political parties in other Lusophone countries, including the Social Democratic Party
(PSD) in Portugal
and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola/Labour Party
(MPLA/PT).
, held in January 1991, the party suffered a defeat at the polls capturing only 30.5% of the vote and 21 seats in the 55-member National Assembly
.
December 1992 local elections resulted in the MLSTP/PSD gaining control of five of the country's seven provinces.
In the 1994 Legislative elections
, the party received 37% of the vote and regained control of the National Assembly winning 27 of the 55-seats, one short of an absolute majority.
March 1995 elections to the newly created seven member assembly on the smaller island of Príncipe
resulted in another victory for the party.
Manuel Pinto da Costa ran as the MLSTP/PSD candidate in the 1996 Presidential election
. In the first round, he came in second behind the incumbent President Miguel Trovoada, winning 39% of the vote to Trovoada's 41%. In the second round he was defeated by Trovoada who captured 52.7% of the vote to his 47.3%.
In the 1998 legislative elections
, the MLSTP/PSD won 50.6% of the vote and increased its majority in the National Assembly from 27 to 31 seats.
In the July 2001 Presidential election
, Manuel Pinto da Costa again attempted to regain the presidency, but was soundly defeated by businessman Fradique de Menezes
55.2% to 40.0%.
March 2002 legislative elections
maintained the MLSTP's status as the largest party in the National Assembly, but only by one seat. The party received 39.6% of the vote and won 24 of the 55-seats.
In the most recent legislative election
, held on 26 March 2006, the party finished second behind the Force for Change Democratic Movement
-Democratic Convergence Party
(MDFM-PCD) coalition, winning 20 out of 55 seats.
The party did not field a candidate in the 30 July 2006 presidential election
, opting to join a coalition of parties supporting Patrice Trovoada
of the Independent Democratic Action
(ADI) party. He was defeated by the incumbent Fradique de Menezes, winning 38.82% of the vote to de Menezes' 60.58%.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
. Aurélio Martins
Aurélio Martins
Aurélio Pires Quaresma Martins is a São Toméan journalist, businessman and politician, leader of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party...
is the current president of the party.
Early years
The party, then called the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe, was founded in 1960 as a nationalist group opposed to Portuguese colonial rule. In 1961 it joined the CONCP with other communist and socialist groups fighting against the Portuguese empirePortuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
in Africa. The CLSTP was set up by exiles who eventually established their base in nearby Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
. Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa
Manuel Pinto da Costa
Manuel Pinto da Costa is a Santoméan economist and politician who served as the first President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1975 to 1991. He was again elected as President in August 2011 and took office on 3 September 2011....
, who would eventually become President of an independent São Tomé and Príncipe, was the leader of the party. In 1972, the CLSTP became the MLSTP.
After the April 1974 Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, the new government agreed to hand over power to the MLSTP. Later that year, the MLSTP was recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Santomean people.
Independence & one-party rule
Following a brief period of transitional government, elections were held for a constituent assemblyConstituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
and the MLSTP won all 16 of its seats.
Independence was achieved on July 12, 1975, with Manuel Pinto da Costa as President and Miguel Trovoada
Miguel Trovoada
Miguel dos Anjos da Cunha Lisboa Trovoada was Prime Minister and President of São Tomé and Príncipe. Currently he is the Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.-Background:...
as Prime Minister. The constitution promulgated on December 12, 1975, effectively vested absolute power in the President and the MLSTP became the nation's sole legal political party.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, the party's socialist orientation and in turn the nation developed strong ties with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Transition to democratic rule
In late 1989, a progressive faction within the party embarked on a transition to full multi-party democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, after a debate at the national party conference.
A democratic constitution introduced by the MLSTP Central Committee was approved overwhelmingly in an August 1990 referendum.
At the MLSTP Party Congress in October 1990, Carlos Graça was appointed as the new Secretary-General, in succession to Manuel Pinto da Costa. In addition, the party's name was amended to the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).
In an extraordinary Congress of the MLSTP/PSD held in May 1998, Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected unopposed as President of the party, a post that he held until 2005.
At the party's Fourth Congress, Guilherme Posser da Costa
Guilherme Posser da Costa
Guilherme Posser da Costa was Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1999 to 2001.Posser da Costa served as Minister of Foreign Affairs on three different occasions: 1987-1988, 1990-1991, and 1994-1996...
, a former Prime Minister, was elected as President of the MLSTP-PSD on 27 February 2005, succeeding Pinto da Costa. There were 708 votes in favor of Posser da Costa, who was the only candidate, and three votes against him. As of June 2008, the President of the MLSTP/PSD is Joaquim Rafael Branco
Joaquim Rafael Branco
Joaquim Rafael Branco is a São Toméan politician. He is the President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party , and the former Prime Minister of the country....
.
In June 2008, after Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Emery Trovoada is a São Toméan politician. He has been Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe since 14 August 2010; previously he was Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008.Trovoada was born in Libreville, Gabon...
of the Independent Democratic Action
Independent Democratic Action
The Independent Democratic Action is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was established in 1991 and is a politically centrist party....
(ADI) party was defeated in a vote of no confidence, President Fradique de Menezes
Fradique de Menezes
Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2003 to 2011.-Early life:Menezes was born on the then Portuguese colony of São Tomé in 1942, the son of a Portuguese man and a local woman. He attended high school in Portugal...
asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government, and it chose Branco to become the next Prime Minister. The ADI denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional, arguing that it was too late in the parliamentary term to do so, and it took the matter to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.
The Current president of the MLSTP-PSD, Aurelio Martins, was elect in day 15 of January of 2011 in the V Usual Congress of the Party.
Today the MLSTP/PSD has friendly relations with political parties in other Lusophone countries, including the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Portugal)
The Social Democratic Party , is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Portugal. It is commonly known by its initials, PSD; on ballot papers, its initials appear as PPD/PSD, with the first three letters coming from the party's original name, Democratic People's Party...
(PSD) in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola/Labour Party
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labour Party is a political party that has ruled Angola since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975...
(MPLA/PT).
Performance in recent elections
In the nation's first democratic electionsSão Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 1991
Parliamentary elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 20 January 1991. They were the first multi-party elections for the National Assembly, following a referendum the previous year...
, held in January 1991, the party suffered a defeat at the polls capturing only 30.5% of the vote and 21 seats in the 55-member National Assembly
National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe
The unicameral National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 26 March 2006, has a total of 55 members elected in 7 multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system...
.
December 1992 local elections resulted in the MLSTP/PSD gaining control of five of the country's seven provinces.
In the 1994 Legislative elections
São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 1994
Parliamentary elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 2 October 1994. The result was a victory for the opposition Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe - Social Democratic Party, which won 27 of the 55 seats in the National Assembly...
, the party received 37% of the vote and regained control of the National Assembly winning 27 of the 55-seats, one short of an absolute majority.
March 1995 elections to the newly created seven member assembly on the smaller island of Príncipe
Príncipe
Príncipe is the northern and smaller of the two major islands of the country of São Tomé and Príncipe lying off the west coast of Africa. It has an area of 136 km² and a population of approximately 5,000. The island is a heavily eroded volcano over three million years old, surrounded by other...
resulted in another victory for the party.
Manuel Pinto da Costa ran as the MLSTP/PSD candidate in the 1996 Presidential election
São Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 1996
Presidential elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 30 June 1996. The election was contested by four candidates; incumbent President Miguel Trovoada, former President Manuel Pinto da Costa, Alda Bandeira, a former Foreign Minister, and former Prime Minister Carlos da Graça...
. In the first round, he came in second behind the incumbent President Miguel Trovoada, winning 39% of the vote to Trovoada's 41%. In the second round he was defeated by Trovoada who captured 52.7% of the vote to his 47.3%.
In the 1998 legislative elections
São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 1998
Parliamentary elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 8 November 1998. The result was a victory for the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party, which won 31 of the 55 seats in the National Assembly...
, the MLSTP/PSD won 50.6% of the vote and increased its majority in the National Assembly from 27 to 31 seats.
In the July 2001 Presidential election
São Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 2001
The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe held presidential elections on 29 July 2001. It was the nation's third presidential election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990...
, Manuel Pinto da Costa again attempted to regain the presidency, but was soundly defeated by businessman Fradique de Menezes
Fradique de Menezes
Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2003 to 2011.-Early life:Menezes was born on the then Portuguese colony of São Tomé in 1942, the son of a Portuguese man and a local woman. He attended high school in Portugal...
55.2% to 40.0%.
March 2002 legislative elections
São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 2002
On 3 March 2002, São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. Voter turnout was 66.3 percent.-Background and outcome of elections:...
maintained the MLSTP's status as the largest party in the National Assembly, but only by one seat. The party received 39.6% of the vote and won 24 of the 55-seats.
In the most recent legislative election
São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 2006
São Tomé and Príncipe held its fifth National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990 on 26 March 2006.-Parties and Coalitions:Eight political parties and two coalitions contested the election....
, held on 26 March 2006, the party finished second behind the Force for Change Democratic Movement
Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party
The Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was formed after the 29 July 2001 presidential elections by supporters of the elected president Fradique de Menezes...
-Democratic Convergence Party
Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group
The Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was founded on 4 November 1990 by MLSTP dissidents, independents, and young professionals. Leonel Mário d'Alva is the current party leader....
(MDFM-PCD) coalition, winning 20 out of 55 seats.
The party did not field a candidate in the 30 July 2006 presidential election
São Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 2006
São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth presidential election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990 on 30 July 2006. Incumbent Fradique de Menezes, first elected in 2001, won more than 60 per cent of the votes, while his main challenger, Patrice Trovoada got just over 38 per cent of...
, opting to join a coalition of parties supporting Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Emery Trovoada is a São Toméan politician. He has been Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe since 14 August 2010; previously he was Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008.Trovoada was born in Libreville, Gabon...
of the Independent Democratic Action
Independent Democratic Action
The Independent Democratic Action is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was established in 1991 and is a politically centrist party....
(ADI) party. He was defeated by the incumbent Fradique de Menezes, winning 38.82% of the vote to de Menezes' 60.58%.