São Tomé and Príncipe’s main opposition party, the Liberation Movement of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP), won the most seats in the country’s latest parliamentary election. However, it fell short of a majority. The party secured 24 of Parliament’s 55 seats, leaving it four seats short of the 28 required to govern with an outright majority. The Independent Democratic Action, the party associated with newly re-elected President Carlos Vila Nova, placed second with 23 seats. Meanwhile, the Independent Citizens Movement-Socialist Party/National Unity Party (MCI-PS/PUN) secured six, while the Basta movement won two. The results place the six-seat MCI-PS/PUN in a potentially decisive position as parties negotiate over the formation of the next government. Under the country’s system, the president appoints the government, but it needs parliamentary backing to govern.