According to provisional results released on Monday by the National Electoral Commission (CEN), Carlos Vila Nova has been elected president of São Tomé and Príncipe in Sunday’s second round.
The election results were announced on Monday at 3 a.m. local time by the CEN president, Fernando Maquengo, at its headquarters in the capital.
From a total of 45,481 votes cast in the second round, Vila Nova scored 57.54% while Guilherme Posser da Costa got 33,557 votes representing 42.46%.
Vila Nova, who was backed by the opposition Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party, had earlier claimed victory and identified closing wounds in society as “one of the main tasks” he faced after his election.
In a speech made at his campaign headquarters in Santarém, on the outskirts of the capital, Vila Nova said “I consider one of the main tasks of the president-elect – when I am sworn in as President of the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe – I will have before me the pacification of Sao Tome society, which is fractured”.
He added that “In recent years we have regrettably experienced a policy of hatred, persecution, separation and exclusion.
“And I have always said that it is necessary to fight these evils,” he continued. “Those evils are my enemies.”
Posser da Costa had the backing of the ruling government which is in majority: the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe – Social Democratic Party, the New Convergence Party and the UDD/MDFM coalition.
The abstention rate in Sunday’s voting 34.68%, was slightly higher than the first round on July 18 (31.6%).