São Tomé and Príncipe went to the polls on 27 September 2026 to elect its National Assembly, together with its municipal councils and the regional government of Príncipe. It was the second national vote in ten weeks, after President Carlos Vila Nova was re-elected in the first round on 19 July. The legislative result was the closest in years. No party won the 28 seats needed to govern alone, and the two largest parties are separated by a single seat.
We act as a Licensed Marketing Agent for the country's Citizenship by Investment Programme, so our clients have asked us what this means for them. This briefing sets out the facts, explains how a government will be formed, and gives our practical view on what the transition does and does not change for applicants. We take no position on which party should govern.
The confirmed result
On 6 October the Constitutional Court confirmed the seat distribution first announced by the National Electoral Commission. The MLSTP won 24 seats, the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) 23, the MCI-PS/PUN coalition 6 and Movimento Basta 2. The Court made only minor adjustments to vote totals and left the seat count unchanged. It rejected a challenge from Basta over one seat in the Mé-Zóchi district, while leaving room to reconsider if new evidence is submitted.
| Party | Seats | Votes (official) | Seats before |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLSTP | 24 | 18,639 | 18 |
| ADI | 23 | 18,168 | 30 |
| MCI-PS/PUN | 6 | 4,222 | 5 |
| Movimento Basta | 2 | 4,626 | 2 |
Seats are allocated by proportional representation in seven district constituencies, plus two diaspora seats, which is why Basta can win more votes than MCI-PS/PUN and fewer seats.
The headline shift is ADI's fall from the 30-seat majority it won in 2022 to 23, and the MLSTP's rise from 18 to 24. Both parties claimed the edge on election night, ADI citing a technical tie on its own count, before the official tally settled the matter. Turnout was around 37 per cent, and the National Electoral Commission's provisional figures put abstention at a record 62.92 per cent, above the 58.81 per cent recorded at July's presidential election.
How a government gets formed
Under São Tomé and Príncipe's semi-presidential system, the President appoints the Prime Minister in light of the election results, and the new government must then command the support of the National Assembly. The arithmetic is simple:
| Combination | Seats | Majority? |
|---|---|---|
| MLSTP + MCI-PS/PUN | 30 | Yes |
| ADI + MCI-PS/PUN | 29 | Yes |
| MLSTP + ADI | 47 | Yes |
| MLSTP + Basta | 26 | No |
| ADI + Basta | 25 | No |
That puts MCI-PS/PUN in the position of kingmaker, and its leadership has said publicly that it is open to talks with both larger parties. A grand coalition of the MLSTP and ADI is arithmetically possible, but President Vila Nova has said he would rather voters had a clear government and a clear opposition than a national unity government. A minority government relying on case-by-case support is also possible. At the time of writing on 9 October, we have not seen an announcement of a new Prime Minister.
The background
The result follows two turbulent years for ADI. In January 2025 President Vila Nova, originally elected in 2021 as ADI's candidate, dismissed the government of Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, citing institutional disloyalty and an inability to govern. He appointed Américo Ramos, ADI's secretary-general and a former finance minister and central bank governor, whose government was supported by the parties in the Assembly but contested by ADI's leadership. In July 2026 Vila Nova won re-election with 55.88 per cent against ADI's official candidate. After the vote, Américo Ramos, who now leads ADI, attributed part of the party's result to a call for abstention by Patrice Trovoada.
What observers said
Two international missions observed the vote. The CPLP mission, led by former Equatorial Guinea prime minister Vicente Ehate Tomi, deployed 27 observers to 228 polling stations covering around 80 per cent of the domestic electorate. It found the elections transparent, free and credible, rated voting procedures good in 96 per cent of the stations observed, and recommended clearer rules on closing hours and better voter information.
The European Union Election Observation Mission, led by Sérgio Humberto, described election day as orderly and peaceful and noted improvements to ballot secrecy. It also recorded concerns: limited transparency in campaign finance, perceptions of politicisation of the judiciary across the political spectrum, and road blockades and detentions after the exclusion of some MCI-PS/PUN candidates during the campaign. Its final report, with recommendations, is due within two months.
A close result, peacefully contested and settled by the courts, is how a working democracy handles a divided electorate.
What this means for citizenship applicants
São Tomé and Príncipe's government has changed hands at the ballot box before, including in 2018, when an MLSTP-led coalition replaced an ADI government, and in 2022, when ADI returned with a majority. The Citizenship by Investment Programme is newer than both of those transitions. It was established by Decree-Law No. 07/2025, opened in September 2025, and in its first year the Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU) recorded 548 applications from 72 nationalities and USD 9.8 million in contributions. Here is our honest reading of what the transition means in practice.
What does not change
The Programme's legal basis, contribution levels, due diligence process and eligibility rules are set by the Decree-Law and the CIU's published guidance, and none of them change because of an election result. The CIU continues to receive and process applications. Document preparation, which is usually the longest part of a well-run application, is unaffected by politics.
What may slow down
After approval, every naturalisation passes through the Council of Ministers and then the President's office for promulgation. The CIU's June 2026 memorandum already sets a minimum of twelve weeks from approval to documents. While a new government is formed and its ministers take office, Council of Ministers business may move more slowly, so applicants approved in the coming weeks should plan for the possibility that their post-approval stage runs beyond that minimum.
The honest caveat
A decree-law can be amended by a future government. We are not aware of any public statement by the MLSTP, ADI or the smaller parties proposing to end or restructure the Programme, and the Programme contributes revenue that any government will want to keep. A new government could still revise fees, processes or eligibility, as governments with established programmes elsewhere regularly do. Naturalisations that have already been promulgated are completed legal acts.
We will publish any change affecting the Programme as soon as the CIU confirms it.
What we are telling clients
Clients who are ready to apply should not wait for a government to be formed. The decision stage takes approximately two months, and any slowdown is most likely to affect the step after approval. Clients with a fixed deadline, such as a business relocation or a school enrolment, should build in extra time and discuss it with us before submitting. Families who are still collecting documents can use this period to complete their files, so they are ready to submit once the political picture is clearer.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election?
No party won a majority. In results confirmed by the Constitutional Court, the MLSTP won 24 of the 55 seats in the National Assembly, ADI won 23, the MCI-PS/PUN coalition won 6 and Movimento Basta won 2. A majority requires 28 seats. The election was held on 27 September 2026 alongside municipal and regional elections.
How will São Tomé and Príncipe form a government after the hung parliament?
The President appoints a Prime Minister in light of the election results, and the government must then secure the support of the National Assembly. With 28 seats needed, either the MLSTP (24) or ADI (23) would reach a majority with the support of MCI-PS/PUN (6). President Carlos Vila Nova has said he prefers not to form a national unity government.
Were the 2026 São Tomé elections free and fair?
The CPLP observation mission described the elections as transparent, free and credible. The European Union Election Observation Mission described election day as orderly and peaceful, while noting concerns about campaign finance transparency and perceptions of judicial politicisation. Turnout was low, at around 37 per cent.
Does the election affect São Tomé and Príncipe's Citizenship by Investment Programme?
The Programme is established by Decree-Law No. 07/2025 and administered by the Citizenship Investment Unit, and it continues to operate. A change of government does not by itself change the law. Applicants should expect that post-approval steps requiring Council of Ministers sign-off may move more slowly during the transition, and that any future government could amend the Programme's rules.
Is São Tomé and Príncipe politically stable?
São Tomé and Príncipe holds regular, competitive multiparty elections, and government has changed hands through the ballot box, including in 2018 and 2022. It has also experienced political friction, such as the President's dismissal of the government in January 2025. The 2026 presidential and legislative elections were assessed by international observers as peaceful.
Should I delay my São Tomé citizenship application until a new government is formed?
Not necessarily. Preparing documents, apostilles and source-of-funds evidence takes weeks and is unaffected by politics, and the decision stage takes approximately two months. Applicants on a tight deadline should allow extra time for post-approval stages and discuss timing with their Licensed Marketing Agent.
Planning an application around the transition?
Tell us your timeline and your family's circumstances. As a Licensed Marketing Agent under Decree-Law No. 07/2025, Advance Citizenship will tell you plainly whether to submit now, how to plan for the post-approval stage, and how we will keep you informed as a new government takes office.
Request a confidential consultationLicensed Marketing Agent · Decree-Law No. 07/2025