Research Africa > West of Africa > São Tomé and Príncipe > Politics

Politics        0  690 reads


1) Government
 

Administrative divisions
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Administrative divisions > A note
Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Administrative divisions > Note
Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Capital city Sao Tome
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 0 12 N, 6 39 E
Capital city > Name Sao Tome
Capital city > Time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection unknown
CPIA equity of public resource use rating 3.5 [45th of 75]
CPIA quality of public administration rating 3 [51st of 75]
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Diplomatic representation in the US
Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery
400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission
First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) Atlanta
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (212) 935-7348
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
Elections > Head of state Direct election
Executive branch > Cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state
President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
Executive branch > Election results
Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Executive branch > Elections
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
Executive branch > Head of government
Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
Flag description
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment May 23, 1993
Foreign relations of Western Sahara > States recognizing the SADR > Date of recognition June 22, 1978
General government final consumption expenditure > annual % growth -4.44 % [130th of 147]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$ 14,639,020 constant 2000 US$ [145th of 145]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$ (per capita) 104.806 constant 2000 US$ per c [105th of 146]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant LCU 8049646000
General government final consumption expenditure > current LCU 320167000000
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ 30,324,590 $ [142nd of 169]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per $ GDP) 0.43 $ per $1 of GDP [2nd of 184]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per capita) 193.739 $ per capita [85th of 184]
Government type republic
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Independence Day > Date July 12
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Legal system
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Legislative branch > Election results
percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1
Legislative branch > Elections
last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010)
National holiday Independence Day, 12 July
political parties > Multi party •
Political parties and leaders
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [[Patrice TROVOADA]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
Political pressure groups and leaders > Other the media
Prime minister Tomé Vera Cruz
Procedures to build a warehouse > number 16 [100th of 168]
Procedures to build a warehouse > number (per capita) 102.221 per 1 million people [11th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number 67 [2nd of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number (per capita) 428.052 per 1 million people [8th of 171]
Procedures to register property > number 7 [47th of 167]
Procedures to register property > number (per capita) 44,721.862 per 1 billion people [9th of 167]
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament > % 7.3 % [141st of 174]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number 10 [72nd of 171]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number (per capita) 63.888 per 1 million people [8th of 171]
Status
 democracy
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Time required to build a warehouse > days 259 days [42nd of 168]
Time required to enforce a contract > days 405 days [106th of 171]
Time required to register property > days 62 days [65th of 167]
Time required to start a business > days 144 days [7th of 171]
Time to prepare and pay taxes > hours 424 hours [36th of 169]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International none
UN membership date 16 Sep. 1975
United Nations mission
 http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/ ... ipe_relations_summary.htm http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5434.htm


 

SOURCES
All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; CIA World Factbook, 14 June, 2007 ; Wikipedia: List of countries' copyright length ; World Development Indicators database; Wikipedia: Elections by country ; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Croatia ; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Western Sahara ; Wikipedia: Independence Day ; Wikipedia: List of political parties ; Wikipedia: Prime minister ; electionworld.org; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; Wisconsin High School Model United Nations

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe, Sao Tome e Principe , sao toma & prancipe, sao toma e prancipe, Sao Tome & Principe, São Tomé and Principe, São Tomé & Principe, São Tomé and Príncipe

Democracy
 

CPIA gender equality rating 3 [64th of 75]
CPIA policies for social inclusion/equity cluster average 2.8 [64th of 75]
CPIA property rights and rule-based governance rating 2.5 [62nd of 75]
CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 3.1 [44th of 75]
CPIA transparency, accountability, and corruption in the public sector rating 3.5 [17th of 75]
Female candidacy 1,975 [7th of 161]
Female parliamentarians 9.1% [101st of 157]
Female suffrage 1975
First female parliamentarian 1975 (elected)
Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.979059456375313 [72nd of 183]
Homosexuality laws of the world > Homosexuality laws > Laws against homosexuality Yes
Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes 3.1% [46th of 110]
Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 66.3% [89th of 152]
Parliamentary elections > Total vote 40,412 [143rd of 154]
Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 60,961 [140th of 152]
Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 63,536 [148th of 163]
Parliamentary elections > Voting age population (per capita) 339.021 per 1,000 people [156th of 162]
Presidential elections > Invalid votes 1.5% [42nd of 61]
Presidential elections > Registered voter turnout 70.6% [46th of 86]
Presidential elections > Total vote 47,535 [86th of 87]
Presidential elections > Turnout 70.4 [40th of 82]
Presidential elections > Voter registration 67,374 [85th of 86]
Presidential elections > Voting age population 67,504 [90th of 91]
Presidential elections > Voting age population (per capita) 360.194 per 1,000 people [86th of 91]


 

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva; calculated on the basis of data on parliamentary seats from IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2002. Parline Database. March 2002; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva.; Source: Millennium Development Goals Database | United Nations Statistics Division; Wikipedia: Homosexuality laws of the world ; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe, Sao Tome e Principe , sao toma & prancipe, sao toma e prancipe, Sao Tome & Principe, São Tomé and Principe, São Tomé & Principe, São Tomé and Príncipe

 

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