The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP) or Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe, in Portuguese, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe. The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a tiny two- island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, distanced 140 kilometers from one another, and situated about 250 and 225 kilometers, respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. ...

History

Early years

The party, then called the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe, was founded in 1960 as a nationalist group opposed to Portuguese colonial rule. It was set up by exiles who eventually established their base in nearby Gabon. Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa, who would eventually become President of an independent São Tomé, was the leader of the CLSTP. In 1972, the CLSTP became the MLSTP. 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Manuel Pinto da Costa (b. ...

After the April 1974 coup d'etat in Portugal, the new government agreed to handover power to the MLSTP. Later that year, the MLSTP was recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the people. 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ...

Independence & one-party rule

Following a brief period of transitional government, elections were held for a constituent assembly and the MLSTP won all 16 of its seats. A Constituent Assembly is a body elected with the express and limited purpose of drafting, and in some cases, adopting a constitution. ...

Independence was achieved on July 12, 1975, with Manuel Pinto da Costa as President and Miguel Trovoada as Prime Minister. The constitution promulgated on December 12, 1975, effectively vested absolute power in the President and the MLSTP became the nations' sole legal political party. July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Miguel dos Anjos Trovoada (born 1936) was a former prime minister and president of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

During the late 1970s and 1980s, the party was marxist oriented and in turn the nation developed strong ties with Cuba, China, East Germany, and the Soviet Union. East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), German Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), was a Communist state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the former Soviet occupation zone of Germany. ...

Transition to democratic rule

In late 1989, a progressive faction within the party embarked on a transition to full Multi-party democracy, after a debate at the national party conference. 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A multi-party system is a type of party system. ...

A democratic constitution introduced by the MLSTP Central Committee was approved overwhelmingly in an August 1990 referendum. 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

At the MLSTP Party Congress in October 1990, Carlos da Graça was appointed the new Secretary-General, in succession to Manuel Pinto da Costa. In addition, the party's name was amended to the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD).

Party Logo

In an extraordinary Congress of the MLSTP-PSD held in May 1998, Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected unopposed as president of the party, a post that he holds to this date.

The highest ranking member of the MLSTP-PSD in the current government is Prime Minister Damião Vaz d'Almeida, who is vice-president of the party. Prime Minister Damião Vaz d’Almeida Damião Vaz dAlmeida (born 28 April 1951) is the current Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe and vice-president of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), the largest party in the National Assembly. ...

Performance in recent elections

In the nation's first democratic elections, held in January 1991, the party suffered a defeat at the polls capturing only 30.5% of the vote and 21 seats in the 55-member National Assembly. 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

December 1992 local elections resulted in the MLSTP-PSD gaining control of five of the country's seven provinces. 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the 1994 Legislative elections, the party received 37% of the vote and regained control of the National Assembly winning 27 of the 55-seats, one short of an absolute majority. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

March 1995 elections to the newly created seven member assembly on the smaller island of Príncipe resulted in another victory for the party. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Príncipe is the smaller of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. ...

Manuel Pinto da Costa ran as the MLSTP-PSD candidate in the 1996 Presidential election. In the first round, he came in second behind the incumbent President Miguel Trovoada, winning 39% of the vote to Trovoada's 41%. In the second round he was defeated by Trovoada who captured 52.7% of the vote to his 47.3%. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

In the 1998 legislative elections, the MLSTP-PSD won 50.6% of the vote and increased its majority in the National Assembly from 27 to 31 seats. 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

In the July 2001 Presidential election, Manuel Pinto da Costa again attempted to regain the presidency, but was soundly defeated by businessman Fradique de Menezes 55.2% to 40.0%. 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Stub | São Tomé and Príncipe ...

March 2002 legislative elections maintained the MLSTP's status as the largest party in the National Assembly, but only by one seat. The party received 39.6% of the vote and won 24 of the 55-seats. 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On February 27, 2005, Guilherme Posser da Costa, a former prime minister, was elected as head of the party, succeeding Manuel Pinto da Costa. [1] (http://www.afriquecentrale.info/fr/news/news.asp?rubID=1&srubID=10&themeID=1&newsID=1974) February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...