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Feature: Sao Tome's Presidential Elections Goes on Calmly
Presidential elections in Sao Tome and Principe is going ahead in a calm atmosphere in the western African island country, without any incidents or attempted fraud registered, as it is approaching the closure of the polling stations in Sao Tome, Angola, Portugal, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The preliminary result of the elections will be fixed around 2100 GMT on Friday while the official result will be announced in eight days. If there is no outright winner in the first round, the second round will take place in two weeks.
In the twin islands of Sao Tome and Principe, where there are living most of the country's population, the life goes on normally and the voters go to polling stations calmly, according to the Angolan official radio station Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA).
"The only problem here is that some people went to the wrong polling stations", a polling official was quoted by RNA as saying, adding that no incident or attempted fraud has been reported.
Earlier this morning, the turnout was weak, but the traffic picked up near noon while more and more voters went to the polling stations.
Pinto da Costa, former President of the archipelago country from 1975 to 1991, backed by the ruling Liberation Movement for Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), is present in the polling stations, showing his confidence in the victory of the general elections.
Local analysts said that Pinto da Costa appeared likely to take a strong lead in Sunday's first-round vote, even if he does not win an outright majority. His main rival is the businessman Fradique Menezes supported by the biggest opposition Independent Democratic Action (ADI).
Among other candidates are three independent candidates including the current President of the Sao Tome National Assembly Francisco Fortunato Pires, former Health Minister Carlos Tiny and the army captain in reserve Victor Monteiro.
During the campaign, all candidates have promised to strengthen the country's economy, which has been based on aid, cocoa exports and revenue from tourism since its independence in 1975. And some candidates paid much attention to the country's potential petroleum industry, which could turn Sao Tome and Principe, one of the poorest countries in the world, to one of the richest.
The incumbent President Miguel Trovoada is stepping down after serving the maximum two five-year terms allowed by the constitution.
Voters are also confident with the justice of the elections. One of them was quoted as saying after casting his ballot that "I don't think there will be fraud".
President of the Sao Tome National Electoral Commission (CNE) Fernando Maquengo has also announced on Saturday that the result of the elections will be 100% transparent.
Due to the existence of a large amount of voters abroad, the CNE decided to set up polling stations in four foreign countries, namely Angola, Portugal, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
According to reports from Portugal and Angola, the voting was also proceeding in tranquility. A Sao Tome citizen living in Angola said that "it is an opportunity for me to exert my civil rights and I must respect it", adding that he felt excitement when he met on July 23 with the candidate Pinto da Costa who was visiting Angola.
There are living a total of 2,533 registered Sao Tome voters in Angola, mainly due to the close economic and cultural relations between the two Portuguese-speaking African countries.
It was reported that a total of 6,214 Sao Tome citizens abroad have been registered as voters, including 1,867 in Portugal, 1,700 in Gabon and 114 in Equatorial Guinea.
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