The new government in Sao Tome e Principe has already fallen. The government of the prime minister, Patrice Trovoada, was brought down by a motion of censure on 20 May. Afriqueenligne reports that 30/55 deputies supported the censure motion. The president, Fradique de Menezes, was out of the country at the time.

In a previous post, I reported on the difficult situation in Sao Tome. The government, which was formed in February, was a three-party coalition comprising the prime minister’s party, the ADI, the PCD and the MDFM. The opposition party, the MLSTP/PSD, tabled a censure motion and it was supported by the PCD.

The president must now decide whether to ask a new prime minister to try to form another government or to call early legislative elections. The last parliamentary elections were last held in 2006. The problem is that a new coalition is unlikely to be agreed and a minority government is likely to be defeated. However, an election may not change the parliamentary arithmetic. Therefore, the political situation is likely to remain in crisis.

The president, who is returning to Sao Tome tomorrow, has to decide whether to issue the decree that will formally dismiss the government. So, it is possible that he may ask outgoing Prime Minister Trovoada to try to form a new government, but, again, this is likely to be difficult.