EU Praises São Tomé Democracy, Offers Support for Voter Apathy
The European Union has lauded São Tomé and Príncipe as a “resilient democracy” following Sunday’s presidential elections, while simultaneously offering technical assistance to address a record-breaking surge in voter abstention.
A Successful but Quiet Election
Cécile Abadie, the EU Ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe and Gabon, praised the electoral process during a meeting with Prime Minister Américo Ramos. “The missions all have positive perceptions. The elections were well-organized and peaceful,” Abadie said. However, she emphasized that there is significant room for improvement regarding citizen engagement.
Despite the smooth logistical rollout, the election was overshadowed by a historic abstention rate of 58.81%. This figure represents a record high for the archipelago. Ambassador Abadie noted that Prime Minister Ramos attributed the low turnout to a complex mix of political and logistical hurdles.
Record Low Turnout Sparks Concern
Data from the National Electoral Commission (CEN) reveals a stark trend. While legislative elections in the country typically see high participation, presidential turnouts have been sliding. The previous low was recorded in 2016 at 54%, but Sunday’s results surpassed that mark, particularly among the diaspora, where abstention reached nearly 80%.
Incumbent President Carlos Vila Nova, who secured a new five-year term with 55.94% of the vote, acknowledged the numbers are “worrying” but urged for context. He pointed to recent data integration issues between government census records and the CEN, noting that the transition to a new automatic system was not flawless. He also compared the turnout to recent trends in other Portuguese-speaking nations like Portugal and Cape Verde.
EU Pledges Long-Term Support
The EU has committed to helping the country reverse this trend before the legislative, municipal, and regional elections scheduled for September 27. Support will likely include implementing recommendations from the EU Election Observation Mission, which remains on the ground.
“It is important that all parties, the CEN, and political actors work together to enable citizens to participate in the next elections,” Abadie argued.
Election Results at a Glance
The provisional results confirm a decisive victory for the incumbent. Carlos Vila Nova defeated his primary challenger, Nito d’Abreu, who garnered 41.92% of the vote. Minor candidates Eugénio Tiny and Miques João trailed behind with 1.07% and 1.58%, respectively.
Over 142,000 voters were eligible to participate in the election. While the lead-up to the vote was marked by political tension, the day itself passed without major incidents, monitored by observers from the African Union, CPLP, and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Image: Pexels – Mikhail Nilov
