1998 São Toméan parliamentary election
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Parliamentary elections were held in
Background
The 1998 National Assembly elections were originally scheduled for late September/early October as impressive progress on voter registration was made. On 1 September, however, President Miguel Trovoada issued a decree setting the polling date at 8 November.
Nine political parties competed for the 55 seats at stake. These included the three represented in the outgoing parliament: the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP-PSD), the Democratic Convergence Party (PCD) and the Independent Democratic Action (ADI). Since the previous elections in 1994, the first two groups had governed in a coalition, led since November 1996 by
The election campaign lasted from 22 October to 6 November. Issues debated centered on the exploitation of offshore oil reserves and the country's entry into the monetary
Polling day was monitored by international observers. Final results gave an absolute majority (31 seats) to the left-leaning MLSTP-PSD, which had fallen short of this edge by only one seat in 1994. In this context, ADI alleged irregularities in the voting procedure. The victors promptly announced that their priority would be to reorganize the economy and thus alleviate the widespread poverty plaguing the nation.
On 30 December, President Trovoada appointed former Foreign Minister Guilherme Posser da Costa (MLSTP) as Prime Minister; he and the new Cabinet were sworn in on 5 January 1999.
Results
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLSTP–PSD | 14,771 | 50.61 | 31 | +4 | |
Independent Democratic Action | 8,227 | 28.19 | 16 | +2 | |
Democratic Convergence Party–Reflection Group | 4,667 | 15.99 | 8 | –6 | |
Opposition Democratic Coalition | 483 | 1.65 | 0 | 0 | |
National Union for Democracy and Progress | 363 | 1.24 | 0 | New | |
People's Party of Progress | 334 | 1.14 | 0 | New | |
People's Alliance | 184 | 0.63 | 0 | 0 | |
Christian Democratic Front | 156 | 0.53 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 29,185 | 100.00 | 55 | 0 | |
Valid votes | 29,185 | 90.90 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 2,923 | 9.10 | |||
Total votes | 32,108 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 49,639 | 64.68 | |||
Source: African Elections Database, Economist Intelligence Unit[2] |
By district
District | MLSTP-PSD | PCD-GR | ADI |
---|---|---|---|
Água Grande |
8 | 2 | 3 |
Cantagalo | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Caué |
3 | 1 | 1 |
Lembá |
4 | 0 | 2 |
Lobata | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Mé-Zóchi |
6 | 2 | 5 |
Pagué |
3 | 1 | 1 |
Total | 31 | 8 | 16 |
References
- ^ Dieter Nohlen,
Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p746 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
- ^ Country Report: Congo (Brazzaville), São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Economist Intelligence Unit, 1999, p22