MANUEL PINTO DA COSTA

Manuel Pinto da Costa, born on August 5, 1937, in Água Grande, São Tomé and Príncipe, emerged as a significant figure in the political landscape of his country. He pursued his education in East Germany, becoming fluent in both Portuguese and German. This international exposure shaped his worldview and political ideology, particularly his alignment with socialist principles, which he brought back to São Tomé and Príncipe.

Pinto da Costa's early political career was marked by close ties with Angola's MPLA, and he developed a longstanding relationship with Angola's President, José Eduardo dos Santos. This connection symbolized the broader regional solidarity among African socialist movements during the latter half of the 20th century.

In 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe transitioned to a multi-party democracy, leading to the country's first democratic elections. Surprisingly, Pinto da Costa chose not to participate in these elections and initially announced his retirement from politics. His party, the MLSTP, did not put forward another candidate, resulting in Miguel Trovoada's unopposed election as president. However, Pinto da Costa's withdrawal from politics was short-lived. In 1996, he re-entered the political arena and ran against Trovoada, narrowly losing with 47.26% of the vote. He made another attempt in 2001, challenging the incumbent President Fradique de Menezes, but was again defeated.

In 1998, Pinto da Costa was elected leader of the MLSTP, a position he held until his resignation in February 2005, when Guilherme Posser da Costa succeeded him. His political resilience was further demonstrated in the 2011 presidential election when he ran as an independent candidate. Pinto da Costa won the most votes in the first round but did not secure an outright majority. In the subsequent run-off on August 7, he triumphed over his rival, Evaristo Carvalho, with 53% of the vote. His campaign emphasized the need for political stability and a commitment to combating corruption, gaining the support of several key political figures, including former Prime Minister Maria das Neves.

However, Pinto da Costa's victory was met with mixed reactions, as some analysts feared that his return to power might signal a regression to the more authoritarian practices of his earlier presidency. Despite these concerns, he assumed office on September 3, 2011, marking a significant chapter in his political journey.

In the 2016 presidential election, Pinto da Costa advanced to the second round but chose to boycott the run-off, leading to his eventual stepping down and the opposition securing victory.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Pinto_da_Costa