Sao Tome, Feb. 10, 2025 (Lusa) - The government of Sao Tome and Principe submitted its programme to parliament on Monday, highlighting its aims of "proximity to the people" and "stimulating economic and social development" - with the prime minister saying that he expects support from the party with an absolute majority in parliament.
According to the prime minister, Américo Ramos, who handed the document to the speaker of parliament, Celmira Sacramento, the five axes of the government's programme are strengthening governance and proximity to the people, stimulating economic and social development, promoting social justice and social inclusion, administrative reform and modernisation, and regional integration and proactive diplomacy.
"In this programme, we're going to continue what the eighteenth government started," said Ramos of the previous executive. "Government, correcting, of course, some aspects that we consider may not be in line with what our programme is, and putting the emphasis on what is most essential."
Ramos's team was sworn in on 14 January, following the resignation of Patrice Trovoada as prime minister on 6 January.
Since then Trovoada, who is also president of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party, which has an absolute majority in parliament, has criticised the current government - chosen at the president's discretion rather than on the basis of the forces i parliament - as unconstitutional, and warned that he does not have the support of the ADI.
However, Ramos, who has been secretary-general of ADI and included several ADI members and officials in his government, including ministers from its predecessor, was optimistic that its programme would be approved in parliament.
"Yes, I'm optimistic, because I've said from the start that this government is a people-orientated government," he said. "We are working with the aim of satisfying the needs of the people and ADI is a party of governance par excellence, it's a party that won the last elections and there can be no other feeling, no other position for the ADI party than to support this government, which is entirely ADI's."
The prime minister declined to specify the situation of the public finances, promising to work for the country's development.
"We have to rely on what we collect and mobilise during the financial year," he said. "The basis I have is work, organisation, humility and cooperation with everyone, because the government believes that only with everyone can we take this country forward."
After the new government took office, an ADI vice-president and all other parties with parliamentary seats declared their support for the government led by Ramos.
JYAF/ARO // ARO.
Lusa
