Independent Democratic Action

The Independent Democratic Action ( _pt. Acção Democrática Independente) is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was established in 1992 and is a politically centrist party.

It took part in the 29 July 2001 presidential elections, in which its candidate, Fradique de Menezes, won 55.2% of the vote and was elected president. After the elections Fradique de Menezes joined a new party - the Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party. In the legislative election held on 3 March 2002, the Independent Democratic Action was the main party in the Uê Kédadji alliance, that won 16.2% of the popular vote and 8 out of 55 seats. It seceded from this alliance and won in the 2006 election 11 out of 55 seats. In the July 2006 presidential election, its leader Patrice Trovoada ran as the only major opposition candidate, but he was defeated by Menezes.

Trovoada became Prime Minister in February 2008, but was defeated in a May 2008 vote of confidence proposed by the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD)‎, and in June Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a new government. [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por014832&dte=12/06/2008 "Líder da oposição em São Tomé Príncipe designado primeiro-ministro"] , Panapress, June 12, 2008 pt icon.] The ADI denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional, arguing that it was too late in the parliamentary term to do so, and it took the matter to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por014944&dte=16/06/2008 "Partido de PM destituído contra nomeação de novo Governo são-tomense"] , Panapress, June 16, 2008 pt icon.]

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