Manuel Pinto da Costa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Pinto da Costa
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Pinto da Costa in January 2014
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| 1st President of São Tomé and Príncipe | |
| In office 3 September 2011 – 3 September 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | Patrice Trovoada Gabriel Costa Patrice Trovoada |
| Preceded by | Fradique de Menezes |
| Succeeded by | Evaristo Carvalho |
| In office 12 July 1975 – 4 March 1991 |
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| Prime Minister | Miguel Trovoada Celestino Rocha da Costa Daniel Daio |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Leonel Mário d'Alva (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 August 1937 Água Grande, São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Political party | MLSTP/PSD (1975–2011) Independent (2011–present) |
| Spouse | Maria Amelia Pinto da Costa |
| Signature |  |
Manuel Pinto da Costa (born August 5, 1937) is an economist and politician from São Tomé and Príncipe. He was the very first president of São Tomé and Príncipe, serving from 1975 to 1991. He later became president again from 2011 to 2016.
Manuel Pinto da Costa's Journey
Manuel Pinto da Costa studied in East Germany. Because of this, he speaks both Portuguese and German very well. For many years, the political party he led, the MLSTP, had strong connections with Angola and its ruling party, the MPLA. Pinto da Costa himself was good friends with José Eduardo dos Santos, who became the President of Angola.
In 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe became more democratic. This meant that other political parties were allowed to exist. The country held its first election where people could choose their leader. Pinto da Costa decided not to run for president that year. He said he would leave politics. Another leader, Miguel Trovoada, was elected without anyone running against him.
Even though he said he would retire, Pinto da Costa decided to run for president again in 1996. He almost won, getting 47.26% of the votes, but he was narrowly defeated by Miguel Trovoada. In 2001, he ran again, but the current president, Fradique de Menezes, won the election in the first round.
Pinto da Costa became the leader of the MLSTP party in May 1998. He later left the party in February 2005.
In the presidential election in July 2011, he ran as an independent candidate, meaning he wasn't part of a specific party. He got the most votes in the first round, but not enough to win right away. In a second round of voting on August 7, he won against his opponent, Evaristo Carvalho. Pinto da Costa received 53% of the votes.
During his campaign, he promised to bring more stability to the country. He also said he would work to stop corruption, which is when people in power use their position for dishonest gain. Many other important candidates supported him. He officially became president again on September 3, 2011.
In the 2016 election, he made it to the second round of voting. However, he then decided not to participate in the second round. Because of this, he stepped down, and the opposing candidate won the election.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Pinto da Costa para niños
