// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Independent Democratic Action say to the party? "I'm acting out.
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Independent Democratic Action Acção Democrática Independente | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ADI |
| Leader | Patrice Trovoada |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Ideology | Christian democracy |
| Political position | Centre-right[1] |
| International affiliation | Centrist Democrat International |
| National Assembly | 30 / 55 (55%) |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| adi-stp | |
The Independent Democratic Action (Portuguese: Acção Democrática Independente) is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was established in 1994 by the then president Miguel Trovoada and is a politically centre-right party.
It took part in the 29 July 2001 presidential elections, in which its candidate, Fradique de Menezes, won 55.2% of the vote and was elected president. After the elections Fradique de Menezes joined a new party – the Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party. In the legislative election held on 3 March 2002, the Independent Democratic Action was the main party in the Uê Kédadji alliance, that won 16.2% of the popular vote and 8 out of 55 seats. It left this alliance and won in the 2006 election 11 out of 55 seats. In the July 2006 presidential election, its leader Patrice Trovoada ran as the only major opposition candidate, but he was defeated by Menezes.
Trovoada became Prime Minister in February 2008, but was defeated in a May 2008 vote of confidence proposed by the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD), and in June Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a new government.[2] The ADI denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional, arguing that it was too late in the parliamentary term to do so, and it took the matter to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.[3]
Evaristo Carvalho has been the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2016 to 2021, after defeating the incumbent President Manuel Pinto da Costa in the 2016 elections. President Carvalho was also Vice president of the ruling Independent Democratic Action party (ADI). Patrice Trovoada was Prime Minister from 2014 to 2018 as the leader of Independent Democratic Action party (ADI).[4]
On 6 January 2025, president Carlos Vila Nova dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and his government, citing Trovoada's prolonged absences and his government's failure to solve multiple issues.[5] Trovoada responded calling his dismissal "illegal" and "unconstitutional".[6] Vila Nova then selected then Minister of Justice, Ilza Amado Vaz, as prime minister. Vaz then resigned, stating in a letter that her continued leadership “would not contribute to the success of public policies and the harmonious and peaceful development.” Vila Nova thereafter picked Américo Ramos, who was not endorsed for the prime ministerial role by the ADI, being criticized for ignoring the majority of the National Assembly.[7]
Since the collapse of Trovoada's government, the ADI has been mired in a leadership crisis, split between Trovoada’s faction and a faction led current Prime Minister Américo Ramos backed by Carlos Vila Nova.[8] The Supreme Court of Justice declared that the president's firing of the cabinet was unconstitutional and outside the head of state's powers but it wouldn't have any retroactive effect rendering the decision meaningless. The majority of the parliament made up of ADI adopted a resolution to keep Ramos in power ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections.[8]
Political bureau
[edit source]The party's political bureau as of 25 May 2019, is composed of:[9]
- President: Agostinho Fernandes
- Vice Presidents: Álvaro Santiago and Ekeneide dos Santos
- Vice President of the Women's Section (MMA): Arlete Zeferino
- Parliamentary group leader: Abnildo do Nascimento d'Oliveira
Election results
[edit source]Presidential elections
[edit source]| Year | Candidate | 1st | 2nd | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Rank | Votes | % | Rank | ||
| 1996 | Miguel Trovoada | 15,334 | 41.40 | 1st | 35,112 | 52.70 | 1st |
| 2001 | Fradique de Menezes | 25,896 | 55.18 | 1st | - | ||
| 2006 | Patrice Trovoada | 22,339 | 38.80 | 2nd | - | ||
| 2011 | Evaristo Carvalho | 13,125 | 21.79 | 2nd | 31,287 | 47.12 | 2nd |
| 2016 | Evaristo Carvalho | 34,522 | 49.88 | 1st | 42,058 | 100 | 1st |
| 2021 | Carlos Vila Nova | 32,022 | 39.47 | 1st | 45,481 | 57.54 | 1st |
| 2026 | Nito Abreu | 23,394 | 41.42 | 2nd | - | ||
Legislative elections
[edit source]Since 1994, the Independent Democratic Action party has had a parliamentary group.
| Year | Results | Seats | Rank | Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ||||
| 1994 | 6,660 | 26.27 | 14 / 55 |
2nd | Opposition |
| 1998 | 8,222 | 28.30 | 16 / 55 |
2nd | Opposition |
| 2002 | 6,398 | 16.20 | 5 / 55 |
3rd | Opposition (coalition Uê Kédadji) |
| 2006 | 10,678 | 20.50 | 11 / 55 |
3rd | Opposition Government majority Opposition |
| 2010 | 29,588 | 43.13 | 26 / 55 |
1st | Government majority Opposition |
| 2014 | 35,267 | 52.58 | 33 / 55 |
1st | Government majority |
| 2018 | 32,805 | 41.81 | 25 / 55 |
1st | Opposition |
| 2022 | 36,549 | 46.81 | 30 / 55 |
1st | Government majority |
References
[edit source]- ↑ Muisyo, Victor (9 October 2018). "Sao Tome legislatives: Ruling ADI party loses absolute majority". Africanews. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ↑ "Líder da oposição em São Tomé Príncipe designado primeiro-ministro", Panapress, 12 June 2008 (in Portuguese).
- ↑ "Partido de PM destituído contra nomeação de novo Governo são-tomense", Panapress, 16 June 2008 (in Portuguese).
- ↑ "Sao Tome and Principe country profile". BBC News. 14 May 2018.
- ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe: President fires Prime Minister and government". Africanews. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe : Ousted Prime Minister Takes Legal Action [Interview]". Africanews. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "São Tomé and Príncipe gets its third prime minister in a week". Macao News. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Country Profile: Sao Tome and Principe". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ↑ "A nova direção do ADI diz que comissão de gestão não tem legitimidade para expulsar dirigentes". STP-PRESS. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
