It looks like there will soon be a new government in Sao Tome e Principe. Last week, President Fradique de Menezes asked the opposition MLSTP/PSD party to form a government. Afriqueenligne reports that the party has nominated Rafael Branco as its candidate.

The names of the government ministers have yet to be announced. It is possible that there will be a period of cohabitation, given President de Menezes is from the MDFM-PL party. However, it seems more likely that there will be a broad coalition and that the president’s party will have some representation.

The absence of stable government in Sao Tome has reawakened the debate about the constitution. There is some support for the introduction of a presidential system on the assumption that it would make the government more independent of parliament. Indeed, President de Menezes seems to be one of those who is leaning in this direction. (I am sure that, if asked, a number of us would happily volunteer to go to Sao Tome to advise about the pros and cons of different constitutional arrangements!)

For a recent study (in Portuguese) of semi-presidentialism in Sao Tome, see Gerhard Seibert, ‘O semi-presidencialismo e o controlo da constitucionalidade em São Tomé e Príncipe’, in Revista Africana Studia nº 8.