Editing Politics of São Tomé and Príncipe

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{{Politics of São Tomé and Príncipe}}
The '''politics of São Tomé and Príncipe''' takes place in a framework of a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]], whereby the [[President of São Tomé and Príncipe]] is [[head of state]] and the [[Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe]] is [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the [[President of São Tomé and Príncipe|President]] and the [[Cabinet of São Tomé and Príncipe|Government]]. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the government and the [[National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe|National Assembly]]. The [[Judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature. São Tomé has functioned under a multiparty system since 1990. Following the promulgation of a new constitution in 1990, [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] held multiparty [[List of Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe|elections]] for the first time since independence. Shortly after the constitution took effect, the National Assembly formally legalized opposition parties. Independent candidates also were permitted to participate in the January 1991 legislative elections.

==Executive branch==
{{office-table}}
|[[President of São Tomé and Príncipe|President]]
|[[Carlos Vila Nova]]
|[[Independent Democratic Action]]
|2 October 2021
|-
|[[Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe|Prime Minister]]
|[[Americo Ramos]]
|Independent Democratic Action
|10 November 2022
|}

The president of the republic is elected to a five-year term by direct universal [[suffrage]] and a secret ballot, and may hold up to two consecutive terms. Candidates are chosen at their party's national conference (or individuals may run independently). A presidential candidate must obtain an outright majority of the popular vote in either a first or second round of voting in order to be elected president. The prime minister is named by the president but must be ratified by the majority party and thus normally comes from a list of its choosing. The prime minister, in turn, names the 14 members of the cabinet.

On 11 November 2022, Patrice Trovoada was appointed Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe by the President of the Republic of São Tomé, Carlos Vila Nova.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boechat |first1=Geraldine |title=Patrice Trovoada takes office as Prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe – Medafrica Times |url=https://medafricatimes.com/28855-patrice-trovoada-takes-office-as-prime-minister-of-sao-tome-and-principe.html}}</ref>

==Legislative branch==
The [[National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe|National Assembly]] (''Assembleia Nacional'') has 55 members, elected for a four-year term in seven multi-member [[constituency|constituencies]] by [[proportional representation]]. It is the supreme organ of the state and the highest legislative body, and meets semiannually.

==Political parties and elections==
{{main|List of political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe|Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe}}
{{empty section|date=March 2023}}

==Judicial branch==
Justice is administered at the highest level by the [[Supreme Court of São Tomé and Príncipe]]. Formerly responsible to the National Assembly, the judiciary is now independent under the new constitution.

=== Ordem dos Advogados de São Tomé e Príncipe ===
As for the legal profession, the São Tomé and Príncipe Lawyers Association (Ordem dos Advogados de São Tomé e Príncipe) was created in 2006. There is no clear indication as to how certain demographic groups, such as women, have fared in the legal field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oastp.st/|title=OASTP - Ordem dos Advogados de São Tomé e Príncipe|publisher=oastp.st|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref>

==== List of Bastonários{{what|date=April 2024}} ====

* Edmar Carvalho<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoop.it/topic/sao-tome-e-principe/p/3544261330/2012/11/30/morre-1-bastonario-santomense-dr-edmar-carvalho|title=Morre 1º bastonário santomense Dr. Edmar Carvalho {{!}} São Tomé e Príncipe|website=Scoop.it|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.academia.edu/37476431|title=Anuário do Direito de São Tomé e Príncipe 2016/2017|publisher=Instituto do Direito de Língua Portuguesa|year=2017|language=en}}</ref> (2006-2010) ['''1st Bastonário''']
* [[Gabriel Costa (politician)|Gabriel Costa]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sicnoticias.pt/Lusa/2011-02-10-sao-tome-e-principe-bastonario-da-ordem-dos-advogados-quer-reformas-profundas-na-justica|title=SIC Notícias {{!}} São Tomé e Príncipe: Bastonário da Ordem dos Advogados quer reformas profundas na justiça|website=SIC Notícias|date=10 February 2011 |language=pt-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> (2011-2012)
* Celiza de Deus Lima<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/africa/2014/1/8/Sao-Tome-Novo-bastonario-Ordem-Advogados-eleito-Sao-Tome-Principe,eff5a701-3384-48c3-88a1-d7ee032e6acd.html|title=São Tomé: Novo bastonário da Ordem de Advogados eleito em São Tomé e Príncipe - África - Angola Press - ANGOP|website=ANGOP|language=PT-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telanon.info/sociedade/2017/03/24/24016/celia-posser-toma-posse-hoje-como-bastonaria-da-ordem-dos-advogados/|title=Célia Posser toma posse hoje como Bastonária da Ordem dos Advogados|last=Nón|first=Téla|date=2017-03-24|website=Téla Nón|language=pt-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oastp.st/pdf/2017/Discurso_bastonaria.pdf|title=Ilustres Colegas Advogadas e advogados|last=Posser|first=Celia|date=2017|website=OASTP}}</ref> (2012-2014) ['''1st Bastonária''']
* André Aragão<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telanon.info/sociedade/2014/02/21/15727/andre-aragao-e-o-novo-bastonario-da-ordem-dos-advogados/|title=André Aragão é o novo bastonário da Ordem dos Advogados|last=Nón|first=Téla|date=2014-02-21|website=Téla Nón|language=pt-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/africa/2017/2/11/Sao-Tome-Principe-Bastonario-Ordem-Advogados-apreensivo-com-paralisacao-nos-tribunais,913f9fee-4953-41c0-a672-8277ffe1ebce.html|title=São Tomé e Príncipe: Bastonário da Ordem de Advogados apreensivo com a paralisação nos tribunais - África - Angola Press - ANGOP|website=ANGOP|language=PT-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> (2014-2017)
* [[Célia Posser]]<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stp-press.st/2017/03/29/jurista-celia-posser-empossada-bastonaria-da-ordem-dos-advogados-sao-tomenses/|title=Jurista Célia Posser empossada bastonária da ordem dos advogados são-tomenses|last=Neto|first=Ricardo|date=2017-03-29|website=STP-PRESS|language=pt-PT|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> (2017–present)

==Administrative divisions==
Administratively, the country is divided into seven municipal districts, six on São Tomé and one comprising Príncipe. Governing councils in each district maintain a limited number of autonomous decision-making powers, and are reelected every 5 years. Príncipe has had self-government since 29 April 1995.

==Human rights and democracy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2010}}
Since the constitutional reforms of 1990 and the elections of 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe has made great strides toward developing its democratic institutions and further guaranteeing the [[civil rights|civil]] and [[human rights]] of its citizens. São Toméans have freely changed their government through peaceful and transparent elections, and while there have been disagreements and political conflicts within the branches of government and the National Assembly, the debates have been carried out and resolved in open, democratic, and legal fora, in accordance with the provisions of São Toméan law. A number of political parties actively participate in government and openly express their views. Freedom of the press is respected, and there are several independent newspapers in addition to the government bulletin. The government's respect for [[Human rights in São Tomé and Príncipe|human rights]] is exemplary; the government does not engage in repressive measures against its citizens, and respect for individuals' rights to due process and protection from government abuses is widely honored. [[Freedom of expression]] is accepted, and the government has taken no repressive measures to silence critics.

A briefly successful [[coup d'état]] led by Major [[Fernando "Cobo" Pereira]] took place on 16 July 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030716.wsaotome0716/BNStory/International/ |title=Globeandmail.com: Government overthrown in Sao Tome and Principe |access-date=2003-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013040905/http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030716.wsaotome0716/BNStory/International/ |archive-date=2008-10-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==International organization participation==
The country is member of the [[Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique|ACCT]], [[ACP countries|ACP]], [[AfDB]], [[CEEAC]], [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries|CPLP]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|ECA]], [[FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[IBRD]], [[ICAO]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[IFAD]], [[IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization]], [[Intelsat]] (nonsignatory user), [[Interpol (organization)|Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]] (observer), [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[OAU]], [[United Nations]], [[UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[UPU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[WIPO]], [[WMO]], [[World Tourism Organization]], [[World Trade Organization]] (applicant)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091224031040/http://www.gov.st/ Official website of the São Toméan Government] {{in lang|pt}}
{{São Tomé and Príncipe elections}}
{{São Tomé and Príncipe topics}}
{{Africa in topic|Politics of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Sao Tome And Principe}}
[[Category:Politics of São Tomé and Príncipe| ]]