MLSTP fails to form government after election win
The ADI party, which finished second, secured a 29-seat majority with the MCI-PS/PUN coalition, and its leader Américo d'Oliveira dos Ramos was named Prime Minister on November 12.
The Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe (MLSTP) failed to form a government despite winning the most seats in the September 27 legislative elections. The party secured 24 deputies, while the ADI party won 23 seats, and the MCI-PS/PUN coalition took 6. The MLSTP's inability to consolidate its victory led to its exclusion from governing.
While the MLSTP celebrated its narrow win, the ADI party formed a stable parliamentary majority of 29 deputies by agreeing with the MCI-PS/PUN coalition. President Carlos Vila Nova, after consulting political parties, gave the MLSTP 30 days to form a government, a deadline they could not meet. Consequently, the President invited the ADI to present a candidate for Prime Minister.
On November 12, 2026, Dr. Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos was appointed Prime Minister, leading the ADI party. The MLSTP also lost leadership positions in the National Assembly to the ADI and MCI-PS/PUN. Political analysts suggest the MLSTP leader should consider stepping down and calling an extraordinary congress to elect new leadership to avoid further political isolation.