The new government in Sao Tome e Principe may not see the light of day after all. As I reported yesterday, President Fradique de Menezes asked the opposition MLSTP/PSD party to form a government and nominated Rafael Branco as its candidate. Afriqueenligne reports that an agreement has since been reached between the MLSTP/PSD and the PCD party to form a coalition.

However, the ADI, the party of the former prime minister, Patrice Trovoada, who was voted out of office by the MLSTP/PSD and the PCD last month, has taken a court case to try to prevent any MLSTP/PSD-led government. If the court upholds the case, then the president will have to dissolve parliament. The ADI and MDFM have both stated that they will boycott parliament if the MLSTP/PSD – PCD coalition takes office.

From a semi-presidential point of view, the new government is potentially interesting. Although the names of the ministers have yet to be announced, it looks as if the president’s party, the MDFM, will not be represented. This would mean that Sao Tome would experience another period of cohabitation. Paradoxically, though, President de Menezes seems more willing to see the formation of a new government than to follow the line of his own party – a party that he created no less. So, this this raises interesting some questions about what we mean by cohabitation and the different scenarios in which it occurs.