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 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.[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]

A total of 142,296 people were registered for the election, consisting of 121,771 residing in the country and 20,525 in the diaspora.[8]

Candidates

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.[9]

Leader of MLSTP–PSD Jorge Bom Jesus withdrew from the election after party decided to support incumbent president Carlos Vila Nova,[10] however he did that outside the legal deadline and his name will remain on the ballot.[11]

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

Results

CandidatePartyVotes%
Carlos Vila NovaIndependent (MLSTP–PSD)
Nito AbreuIndependent Democratic Action
Jorge Bom JesusIndependent
Miques João BonfimIndependent
Eugénio TinyIndependent
Total
Registered voters/turnout142,296–

References

  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. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  3. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe: President fires Prime Minister and government". Africanews. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe : Ousted Prime Minister Takes Legal Action [Interview]". Africanews. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe gets its third prime minister in a week". Macao News. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
  6. 1 2 3 "Country Profile: Sao Tome and Principe". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Sao Tome holds postponed presidential election". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "Número de eleitores para as presidenciais aumentou de 123.103 em 2021 para 142.296 em 2026". Téla Nón (in Portuguese). 6 June 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Carlos, Maximino (16 June 2026). "São Tomé e Príncipe: Cinco candidatos confirmados à Presidência". RFI (in Portuguese).
  10. ↑ Carlos, Maximino (18 June 2026). "MLSTP declara apoio a Carlos Vila Nova e anuncia desistência de Jorge Bom Jesus". RFI (in Portuguese).
  11. ↑ "Bom Jesus desiste da corrida às presidenciais de 19 de julho". Téla Nón (in Portuguese). 29 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.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9an_presidential_election