São Tomé MLSTP challenges Ramos’ appointment at Constitutional Court
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rádio Somos Todos Primos
MLSTP MPs, winners of September’s legislative elections, petitioned São Tomé’s Constitutional Court to annul the decree appointing Américo Ramos, leader of ADI, as prime minister. They argue that the president ignored the electoral results criterion, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
MPs from the MLSTP, the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe, which came first in September’s legislative elections, petitioned the Constitutional Court on Friday to annul the decree appointing Américo Ramos, leader of ADI, as prime minister. They argue that President Carlos Vila Nova violated the Constitution by failing to take the election results into account, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
The applicants’ spokesperson, MP and former Justice Minister Cílcio dos Santos, said the Constitution provides for the appointment of the prime minister after consultation with parties represented in Parliament and taking the election results into account. He challenged the decision to prioritise the guarantee of a parliamentary majority and asked the Constitutional Court to review the presidential decree’s compliance with the Constitution, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
Américo Ramos, leader of ADI, the party that came second in the legislative elections, was appointed on Thursday after presenting the president with a written guarantee of parliamentary support. The presidency said that the MLSTP, which was consulted first, had been unable to provide a similar guarantee, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
