ANDvaristo Carvalho was speaking before the Portuguese head of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who today awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, in a ceremony at the Portuguese Embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe, on the eve of the inauguration of the new Sao Tome President, Carlos Vila Nova.

“The political-diplomatic relations of cooperation and friendship between São Tomé and Príncipe and Portugal have progressed and have contributed in a special way to the economic and social development of São Tomé and Príncipe and to the strengthening of relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and the Portuguese . Let us continue to work in this direction”, lawyer Evaristo Carvalho.

The outgoing President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe added that he is certain that his successor, Carlos Vila Nova, “continues to this action”.

At the end of the ceremony, before the media, with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at his side, Evaristo Carvalho reiterated this message: “As I said in my communication, I hope that this gesture continues for my successor, that the relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and Portugal to get closer and closer “.

In the intervention he made after receiving the badges, Evaristo Carvalho expressed admiration for the Portuguese President, who he explained as “a humble, affable, affectionate person, ready to comfort the most vulnerable”, considering that opinion “is shared by Sao Tome, including the of the diaspora in Portugal”.

The Sao Tome President thanked Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “for his effort, and the Portuguese authorities in general, for not giving the Sao Tome community in Portugal greater integration into Portuguese society.”

“Immensely moved”, Evaristo Carvalho attributed this tribute to the recognition of his action in promoting ties between the two countries and said he wanted to share it “with the São Tomé nation”.

Evaristo Carvalho, President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe since 2016, currently 78 years old, did not apply for a second term and ends his duties on Saturday.

Carlos Vila Nova, also supported by the Independent Democratic Action (ADI), won the previous presidential elections of September 5, in the second round, defeating Guilherme Posser da Costa.

Initially supported by the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe – Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), Posser da Costa supported in the second round the support of other parties that make up the parliamentary majority in this country.

São Tomé and Príncipe will assume the rotating presidency of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) between 2023 and 2025, after the current presidency of Angola.

In February 2018, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made a state visit to São Tomé and Príncipe, at the invitation of his counterpart, after having received Evaristo Carvalho in Portugal in May 2017.

In March 2019, the Portuguese head of State of State spent a few hours in São Tomé, in stopover, a way from Angola.

In May 2019, he returned to the country to participate in the centenary celebrations of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, on the island of Príncipe, together with his Sao Tome counterpart.

Also read: Marcelo Praises Mandate of the outgoing President of São Tomé and Príncipe