Nilda da Mata elected Speaker of São Tomé and Príncipe’s National Assembly
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on STP-Press and Jornal Tropical
ADI member of parliament Nilda da Mata, a former Minister of the Environment and Tourism, has been elected President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe with the votes of all 55 members, at the opening session of the 13th legislature, according to STP-Press. She is the second woman to preside over the São Tomé and Príncipe Parliament.
A former Minister of the Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism in Américo Ramos’s government, recently dismissed by the President of the Republic, Nilda da Mata is the second woman to preside over the São Tomé and Príncipe Parliament, according to Jornal Tropical. She received the votes in favour of all 55 members of parliament who had taken up their duties.
The formal opening session of the 13<sup>th</sup> legislature comes more than a month after the Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the 27 September legislative elections. The MLSTP won 24 seats, the ADI 23, the MCI-PS/PUN coalition six and the Basta Movement two. The name of the next Prime Minister remains to be confirmed.
Update of 10 November 2026: Elected unanimously President of the National Assembly, Nilda da Mata, a former Minister of the Environment, promised an impartial and unifying presidency. Read more: Nilda da Mata promises an impartial presidency of the São Tomé and Príncipe Parliament.
