Delfim Neves
{{short description|São Toméan politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Delfim Neves
| office1 = President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe
| term_start1 = 22 November 2018
| term_end1 = 8 November 2022
| predecessor1 = José da Graca Diogo
| successor1 = Celmira Sacramento
| president1 =
| party = PCD
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1965|6|5}}
| birth_place = Caué District, Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe
| occupation = Politician
| term_start =
| term_end = 8 November 2022
| birth_name = Delfim Santiago das Neves
| alma_mater = Federal University of Santa Catarina
| children = 4
| image = Delfim Neves (cropped).jpg
}}
Delfim Santiago das Neves (born 5 June 1965){{Cite web |title=Biografia do Presidente da Assembleia Nacional |url=https://www2.camara.leg.br/saotomeeprincipe/presidente/biografia/biografia-do-presidente-da-assembleia-nacional |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=www2.camara.leg.br}} is a São Toméan politician, serving as a member of parliament representing Lobata. He formally served as president of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2018–2022.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-05 |title=Sao Tome and Principe |url=https://data.ipu.org/content/sao-tome-and-principe |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform |language=en}} On 25 November 2022 Neves was arrested on charges of leading the 2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt.
Biography
Neves was born on 5 June 1965 in Conceião, located in Caué District in São Tomé and Príncipe. He graduated at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. He has 4 children.
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.{{Cite web |title=Mr Pinto da Costa is elected president |url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1098473294&Country=S%C3%A3o%20Tom%C3%A9%20and%20Pr%C3%ADncipe&topic=Politics&subtopic=Recent+developments&subsubtopic=The+political+scene:+Mr+Pinto+da+Costa+is+elected+president |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=country.eiu.com}}
In 2018, Neves became the president of the Democratic Convergence Party.{{Cite web |last=Nón |first=Téla |date=2018-10-03 |title=Coligação apostada em derrotar a ADI |url=https://www.telanon.info/politica/2018/10/03/27900/coligacao-apostada-em-derrotar-a-adi/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Téla Nón |language=pt-PT}} 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.{{Cite web |title=L'opposition prend la tête du Parlement au Sao Tomé |url=https://www.voaafrique.com/a/l-opposition-prend-la-tête-du-parlement-au-sao-tome/4670058.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=VOA |language=fr}} In his inaugartion speech, he declared Alda do Espírito Santo and Francisco da Silva were his inspirations.{{Cite web |last=Neto |first=Ricardo |date=2018-11-23 |title=Delfim Neves diz que irá inspirar-se em doutrinas de Alda Espírito Santo e Francisco Silva |url=https://www.stp-press.st/2018/11/23/delfim-neves-diz-ira-inspirar-doutrinas-alda-espirito-santo-francisco-silva/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=STP-PRESS |language=pt-PT}}
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.{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2021-09-06 |title=Opposition candidate Carlos Vila Nova wins Sao Tome presidency: partial results |url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/06/opposition-candidate-carlos-vila-nova-wins-sao-tome-presidency-partial/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Africanews |language=en}} He contested results alleging “massive electoral fraud” but was rejected by the Constitutional Court, with international observers praising the election.{{Cite web |last=Betha |date=2021-07-20 |title=Sao Tome presidential race narrows to two |url=https://www.africaninsider.com/politics/sao-tome-presidential-race-narrows-two/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=African Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-04 |title=Sao Tome and Principe second round presidential elections |url=https://www.foreignbrief.com/daily-news/sao-tome-and-principe-second-round-presidential-elections/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Foreign Brief |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-07 |title=Sao Tome: African Union observers hail 'peaceful, calm' presidential elections |url=https://www.macaubusiness.com/sao-tome-african-union-observers-hail-peaceful-calm-presidential-elections/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Macau Business |language=en-GB}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-25 |title=Coup d’État déjoué à São Tomé-et-Principe: l’ex-président de l’Assemblée et un mercenaire arrêtés |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1396115/politique/coup-detat-dejoue-a-sao-tome-et-principe-lex-president-de-lassemblee-et-un-mercenaire-arretes/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Jeune Afrique |language=fr-FR}}
References
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Category:Presidents of the National Assembly (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Category:Democratic Convergence Party (São Tomé and Príncipe) politicians