The small African nation, Sao Tome and Principe, got a new President. Opposition candidate Carlos Vila Nova won the presidential race, according to the partial results of the postponed run-off showed on Tuesday.
Sao Tome National Electoral Commission (CNE) has announced that Vila Nova, supported by the country’s’ largest opposition party (ADI), won the 2nd round of Sunday’s presidential elections with 57.54 per cent of the votes.
His political rival, Guilherme Posser da Costa from the ruling Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement (MLSTP/PSD), came in 2nd round only 42.46 per cent of the vote.
The new President is 69-year-old, he is a former lawmaker and engineer trained in Algeria. Vila Nova once served as minister of public works, infrastructure, natural resources and environment. Following his victory, he thanked Sao Tome and Principe people for the civility and orderly way in which they participated in this election.
During a press conference in Santarem Sunday, the new political leader said he would also like to thank the people of Sao Tome and Principe for the trust they placed in him.
“With the announcement of the preliminary results, I won those elections in a clear way and this result allows me to be considered as the elected President,” he added.
As Prensa Latina reports, the tiny nation held the seventh polls since independence from Portugal in 1975.
