Dakar
27 June 2008
Led by a new prime minister, a new governing coalition has formed inSao Tome and Principe. The formation of the new government ends aperiod of flux after the previous government was dissolved last month. For VOA, Brent Latham has more from our West and Central Africa bureauin Dakar.
The new prime minister, Rafael Branco, completedprolonged negotiations to form the government, bringing on board theconservative Democratic Force for Change party.
Added to thecoalition formed by Branco's Sao Tome Liberation Movement and theDemocratic Convergence Party, or PCD, the coalition now controls aclear majority in the National Assembly.
With a parliamentarymajority, the new government should be able to move the countryforward, says Rafael Braganca, president of the PCD.
Bragancasays because the new government represents the majority, the peoplehope that it will work to reduce the great challenges that the nationfaces.
He says this includes diversifying the economy, whichis based on falling cocoa production. Much-hoped for oil in Sao Tome'swaters has yet to be found in sufficient quantities to make itinteresting for foreign companies to buy or invest in the industry.
Whenthe previous government was censured by the National Assembly lastmonth, it meant the end of the term of former prime minister PatriceTrovoada, of the Independent Democratic Action Party.
PresidentFradique de Menezes, who had hinted the censure of the previousgovernment may lead to early legislative elections, finally backed downon the idea.
Braganca says there was little support in the small nation for elections, which would have been costly.
"Thecountry was not ready for elections," he said. "Since there was aconstitutional solution of compromise, this was the route chosen tomove forward. For that reason people believe this government has theability to change the country."
Of Sao Tome's estimated 140,000citizens, about half live in very impoverished conditions. Many inrecent years have been hoping for what some politicians called thepromised "oil bonanza".
Braganca says the country should hedge its bets on unproven oil reserves, and should develop alternative economic projects.
"Wecannot depend on waiting for oil," he said. "We must explore otherareas, such as sustainable agriculture, tourism, and buildinginfrastructure."
He said citizens have a beautiful country, and they must take advantage of it.
Shortlyafter being named prime minister, Rafael Branco said he was renouncinghis other nationality, of the former colonial power, Portugal.
His predecessor, Trovoada, had said his successor was what he called a "constitutional fraud" because of his dual nationality.
Thenext scheduled election both for the legislature and the presidencywill be in 2010. President de Menezes, who has won two elected terms,is constitutionally barred from running for another term.