09/09/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Union welcomes the successful completion of the second round of the presidential elections in São Tomé and Príncipe on 5 September and congratulates the President-elect, Mr Carlos Vila Nova, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Peter Stano, said on Wednesday 8 September. “Together with him and his government, we will continue the excellent bilateral cooperation started with his predecessors for the benefit of the relations between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe and our people”, he said in a written statement. The election observation mission led by the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States noted the peaceful and calm atmosphere in which the elections took place, despite the postponement and simmering tensions following the results of the first round on 18 July. Therefore, the EU welcomes “this free and competitive electoral process.” (AN)