PM and leader of ADI calls for majority and party consensus in São Tomé

“My thinking is in the absolute majority. Despite the small pickles within the IDA, I think that the population and the militants will realize that it is important on the 27th to go to the polls and vote ", defended Américo Ramos.

The appeal to the ADI militants not to vote, made by the former Prime Minister and former president of ADI Patrice Trovoada, away from both positions, deserves criticism: “This call has been (...) to defend an ego, a personal ego of the former leader, who for 20 years led the party. I think you should have another posture. ... The appeal should be the opposite. (...). I think it is someone who does not have a patriotic feeling, someone who really thinks that the country should not advance without his presence ", accused.

Asked about whether it is allowed to advance to a post-election coalition if it wins but without winning an absolute majority, Ramos assures that it has been clear about the bridges that are necessary to make in São Tomé and Príncipe: “The space for dialogue is open. In fact, our slogan is ‘United, we make the country move forward’. It means that ADI led by Américo Ramos believes that there must be a national platform of understanding and a consensus with all political forces in what is most important for the country.”.

And what is essential for São Tomé and Príncipe, defends, is to work for the image of the country out there, too: “International credibility is essential and fulfilling commitments with partners is the basis of all this. The image of the country, the issue of democracy is essential (...) so that the partner feels engaged and involved, to help in the mobilization of resources ", sustained.

In this area, he stressed, “Portugal is one of the crucial partners (...) for São Tomé and Príncipe” from vocational training to investment, but “there is room to evolve to more important things”, with the certainty that “Portugal is always available”.

“ But we need to go much further. It is necessary (...) to look for other partners in various corners of the world, because the country needs”, the ruler argued. This is because “the economy has to grow, (...) it has to generate jobs”, he defended.

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.

The municipal and regional elections of 27 September in São Tomé and Príncipe run for four parliamentary parties: Independent Democratic Action (ADI); Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP); Coalition Independent Citizens' Movement/Party of National Unity (MCI-PUN); and Movement Enough.

Three other parties without parliamentary seats vote: the Democratic Convergence Party (DCP), the Democratic Movement Force of Change (MDFM) and the newly created Political Movement Our Earth.

For the legislatures are in dispute 55 seats of the National Assembly and are registered more than 146 thousand voters, an increase of almost 4,000 compared to the presidential elections of 19 July, when Carlos Vila Nova was re-elected, at the first round.