Manuel Pinto da Costa
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Manuel Pinto da Costa | |
1st President of São Tomé and Príncipe
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In office July 12, 1975 – 1991 |
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Succeeded by | Miguel Trovoada |
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Born | August 5, 1937 Vila do Conde, São Tomé and Príncipe |
Political party | Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe |
Manuel Pinto da Costa (born August 5, 1937) is an economist who was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from the country's independence in 1975 until 1991. He instituted a one-party, socialist state under the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP). Educated in the German Democratic Republic, he is fluent in Portuguese and German.
He unsuccessfully ran for president in a democratic system in 1996, taking 47.26% of the vote in a second round against president Miguel Trovoada, and again in 2001, taking about 40% and losing to Fradique de Menezes, who won a majority in the first round.[1]
In an extraordinary Congress of the MLSTP held in May 1998, Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected unopposed as president of the party. In late February 2005, Guilherme Posser da Costa was elected to succeed him.[2]
In 2002, his office was attacked by gunmen. The intention of this act is unclear. Manuel Pinto da Costa has been sent as Ambassador to the intergovernmental organization International Parliament for Safety and Peace in Palermo (see [[1]] ), Italy and now heads their Department for Foreign Affairs.
[edit] References
- ^ Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe, African Elections Database.
- ^ "Election de maréchal pour Guilherme Posser da Costa", AfriqueCentrale.info, February 27, 2006.
Preceded by position created |
President of São Tomé and Príncipe 1975–1991 |
Succeeded by Miguel Trovoada |
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