SÃO TOMÉ, São Tomé and Príncipe — October 24, 2026

São Tomé and Príncipe is facing a crucial political decision as President Carlos Vila Nova prepares to determine which political force will form the country’s next government following September’s parliamentary elections.

In the latest verified update, published by state news agency STP-Press on October 15, Vila Nova said he expected to decide within approximately 30 days, after the National Assembly was constituted and the required institutional procedures were completed.

The September 27 election left no party with an outright majority in the 55-seat parliament. The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP) won 24 seats, narrowly ahead of the Independent Democratic Action party (ADI), which secured 23. The MCI-PS/PUN coalition won six seats, while the BASTA movement obtained two.

The political landscape became more complicated after ADI and MCI-PS/PUN reached a parliamentary agreement giving their bloc 29 seats, enough for a numerical majority. The agreement strengthened ADI’s claim to lead the next administration, even though MLSTP emerged as the largest party.

MLSTP has argued that its electoral victory gives it the mandate to lead the government, while ADI and its parliamentary partner emphasize the importance of a stable majority capable of passing legislation and budgets.

President Vila Nova has said that the formation of the next government must follow democratic and legal procedures and that any proposed administration needs sufficient parliamentary support to govern effectively.

The decision could shape the country's political stability and its ability to address pressing economic and social challenges. Until the president makes his appointment and the constitutional process advances, the leadership of the next administration remains a major issue in national politics.