Delfim Santiago das Neves (born 5 June 1965)[1] is a São Toméan politician, currently serving as president of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe since 2018.[2] On 25 November 2022 Neves was arrested on charges of leading the 2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt.

Delfim Neves
President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe
In office
22 November 2018 – 8 November 2022
Preceded byJosé da Graca Diogo
Succeeded byCelmira Sacramento
Personal details
Born
Delfim Santiago das Neves

(1965-06-05) 5 June 1965 (age 59)
Caué District, Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe
Political partyPCD
Children4
Alma materFederal University of Santa Catarina
OccupationPolitician

Biography

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Neves was born on 5 June 1965 in Conceião, located in Caué District in São Tomé and Príncipe.[1] He graduated at the Federal University of Santa Catarina.[1] He has 4 children.[1]

Neves ran in the 2011 presidential election and finished third with 14.36% of the vote, behind Evaristo Carvalho and the eventual winner Manuel Pinto da Costa.[3]

In 2018, Neves became the president of the Democratic Convergence Party.[4] He was elected President of the National Assembly on 22 November 2018, with 28 votes for his candidature, and 25 for his opponent, Carlos Cassandra Correia.[5] In his inaugartion speech, he declared Alda do Espírito Santo and Francisco da Silva were his inspirations.[6]

Neves was a candidate for the 2021 presidential election, supported by his Democratic Convergence Party. He finished third with 16.88% of the vote, behind Guilherme Posser da Costa and the eventual winner Carlos Vila Nova.[7] He contested results alleging “massive electoral fraud” but was rejected by the Constitutional Court, with international observers praising the election.[8][9][10]

In November 2022, Delfim Neves was arrested for attempting a coup d'état. He, along with an ex-mercenary who attempted a previous coup in 2009, tried to attack the headquarters of the army.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Biografia do Presidente da Assembleia Nacional". www2.camara.leg.br. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  2. ^ "Sao Tome and Principe". Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform. 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  3. ^ "Mr Pinto da Costa is elected president". country.eiu.com. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  4. ^ Nón, Téla (2018-10-03). "Coligação apostada em derrotar a ADI". Téla Nón (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  5. ^ "L'opposition prend la tête du Parlement au Sao Tomé". VOA (in French). Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  6. ^ Neto, Ricardo (2018-11-23). "Delfim Neves diz que irá inspirar-se em doutrinas de Alda Espírito Santo e Francisco Silva". STP-PRESS (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  7. ^ AfricaNews (2021-09-06). "Opposition candidate Carlos Vila Nova wins Sao Tome presidency: partial results". Africanews. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  8. ^ Betha (2021-07-20). "Sao Tome presidential race narrows to two". African Insider. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  9. ^ "Sao Tome and Principe second round presidential elections". Foreign Brief. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  10. ^ "Sao Tome: African Union observers hail 'peaceful, calm' presidential elections". Macau Business. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  11. ^ "Coup d'État déjoué à São Tomé-et-Principe: l'ex-président de l'Assemblée et un mercenaire arrêtés". Jeune Afrique (in French). 2022-11-25. Retrieved 2022-11-25.