BASTA movement calls for unity government in São Tomé
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Téla Nón
São Tomé’s BASTA movement criticises the appointment of Américo Ramos as prime minister and calls for a national unity government. Its spokesman Anacleto Rolim says the main political forces must cooperate to undertake the necessary reforms, Téla Nón reports.
The BASTA movement is calling for the formation of a national unity government in São Tomé and Príncipe following the appointment of Américo Ramos, leader of the second-largest political force from the 27 September legislative elections, as prime minister. The movement’s spokesman, Anacleto Rolim, said this solution did not meet the need for rapprochement between the main political forces, Téla Nón reports.
BASTA, which has two MPs in the National Assembly, called on the president of São Tomé and Príncipe to encourage dialogue between the parties and said it was open to participating in a consensual government solution. The movement says the legislative election result requires political leaders to seek unity and compromise, according to Anacleto Rolim, quoted by Téla Nón.
The appointment of Américo Ramos as prime minister came on 12 November, after several weeks of competing demands over the formation of the government. The president had dismissed the government led by Ramos on 10 November before asking the MLSTP to propose a prime minister within 24 hours. The dismissal of Américo Ramos’s government and the appointment of Américo Ramos as prime minister preceded BASTA’s call for a unity government.
