Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe
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Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party
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| Leader | Aurelio Martins |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Riboque, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Ideology |
Democratic socialism, Social democracy, Left-wing nationalism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| International affiliation |
Progressive Alliance, Socialist International (consultative) |
| National Assembly |
16 / 55
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| Website | |
| http://www.mlstp-psd.st/ | |
The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD) or Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata, in Portuguese, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe. Aurélio Martins is the current president of the party.
The party, then called the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe, was founded in 1960 as a nationalist group opposed to Portuguese colonial rule. In 1961 it joined the CONCP with other communist and socialist groups fighting against the Portuguese empire in Africa. The CLSTP was set up by exiles who eventually established their base in nearby Gabon. Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa, who would eventually become President of an independent São Tomé and Príncipe, was the leader of the party. In 1972, the CLSTP became the MLSTP.
After the April 1974 Carnation Revolution in Portugal, the new government agreed to hand over power to the MLSTP. Later that year, the MLSTP was recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Santomean people.
Following a brief period of transitional government, elections were held for a constituent assembly and the MLSTP won all 16 of its seats.
Independence was achieved on July 12, 1975, with Manuel Pinto da Costa as President and Miguel Trovoada as Prime Minister. The constitution promulgated on December 12, 1975, effectively vested absolute power in the President and the MLSTP became the nation's sole legal political party.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, the party's socialist orientation and in turn the nation developed strong ties with Cuba, the People's Republic of China, the German Democratic Republic, and the Soviet Union.
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Wikipedia