MLSTP leader requests absolute majority but admits post-election coalition

Américo Barros called for a useful vote, not only to combat abstention, which reached a record value in the July presidential (58.81%), but also to explore possible divisions in the power party, the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) and the coalition Independent Citizens' Movement/National Unity Party (MCI/PUN).

In the case of IDA, the historical leader Patrice Trovoada, after being deposed as head of government, was removed from the leadership, now assumed by the current Prime Minister, Américo Ramos, who also goes to votes. After the presidential elections, Trovoada called on ADI activists not to vote. On the other hand, the MCI-PUN coalition was prevented from competing in five electoral circles by the Constitutional Court.

The president of MLSTP argues that the desire to win an absolute majority serves to “ensure political stability and foreign investment” and that reforms are needed to ensure political pacification, separation of powers and a functional and impartial Justice.

“ The entire [attraction] investment process will obviously have to have these three points respected,” said the opposition leader of the Portuguese-speaking country whose public investment depends on about 90% of external funding.

“The country, instead of moving forward, goes backwards when we have no stability. ... That's why we're betting on justice. We'll give her the means to function. And also justice that is impartial”, he stressed.

The president of MLSTP has unfolded in defense of a program focused on four axes: “Save, Invest, Produce and Protect”.

On an economic level, the leader of the opposition – who wants to become Prime Minister, although the party has not been able to win a piece of legislation 24 years ago – has ensured that the savings plan is based on strong cuts in state waste. And it proposes an accelerated energy transition to renewable sources (photovoltaic and mini-hydric) to reduce the current annual expenditure of around 70 million dollars in fossil fuel acquisition, with an immediate saving of 17 million dollars per year.

In addition to infrastructure and primary sectors (agriculture, livestock and fisheries) and tertiary (health and tourism), the electoral programme provides for a social protection strategy that begins at first with direct support for the most vulnerable fringes, to 25,000 families.

The candidate also committed to the creation of free public university and paid traineeships. And he justified: “We cannot allow poverty to define a young person’s life or future.” The candidate also proposes the creation of tax incentives and the reduction of customs fees.

The World Bank points out that only around 21% of the population over 15 years of age is actively employed, with the lack of opportunities to boost the emigration of young people, especially to Portugal. With an aggravation: Diaspora shipments decreased.

In December 2024, the UN officially withdrew the nation from the Less Developed Countries category, recognizing sustained progress, but about 13% of the population lives below the extreme poverty line and more than two thirds suffer from socio-economic vulnerabilities.