Nilda da Mata promises impartial presidency of São Tomé and Príncipe’s parliament
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rádio Somos Todos Primos
Elected unanimously as President of the National Assembly, Nilda da Mata, a former Minister of the Environment, promised an impartial and unifying presidency. She pledged to respect the separation of powers and defended harmony between the organs of sovereignty as a constitutional imperative, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
Nilda da Mata, elected on Tuesday as President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe, promised an "impartial and aglutinadora" (unifying) presidency. She intends to guarantee all members of parliament "the best conditions for the full exercise of their mandate". She said her term would be guided by respect for the separation of powers and constitutional precepts. "In a semi-presidential system like ours, harmony between the organs of sovereignty is not a political option. It is a constitutional imperative," she said.
A former Minister of the Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism, she left the government the previous week to sit as a member of parliament. She was elected unanimously, on the proposal of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) of Prime Minister Américo Ramos. The ADI’s secretary general, Vasth Santos, is vice-president. The two elected women were the only candidates: the MLSTP, winner of the 27 September legislative elections with 24 seats, withdrew its candidates on Monday.
The ADI won 23 of the 55 seats. It has concluded a parliamentary agreement with the MCI-PS/PUN coalition (6 seats), forming an absolute majority of 29 members of parliament. It is the first time two women have led the Assembly’s bureau at the start of a legislature, and 19 women sit in it.
This election follows the candidacy of two ADI elected members for the leadership of parliament, announced the day before.
