The Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group is a political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...

. It was founded on 4 November 1990 by MLSTP

Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe

The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party or Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata, in Portuguese, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe...

 dissidents, independent

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

s, and young professionals. Leonel Mário d'Alva

Leonel Mário d'Alva

Leonel Mário d'Alva is a São Toméan politician. He served as Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 21 December 1974 until 12 July 1975, when the country gained independence from Portugal....

 is the current party leader.

The party won the 1991 parliamentary election

São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 1991

Parliamentary elections were held in São Tomé and Príncipe on 20 January 1991. They were the first multi-party elections for the National Assembly, following a referendum the previous year...

 and was the ruling party from 1991 to 1994. Since 1994 its power has declined, and it has maintained coalitions with other parties, first the MLSTP and then the Forces for Change Coalition of current President Fradique de Menezes

Fradique de Menezes

Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2003 to 2011.-Early life:Menezes was born on the then Portuguese colony of São Tomé in 1942, the son of a Portuguese man and a local woman. He attended high school in Portugal...

.It was led for several years by Alda Bandeira

Alda Bandeira

Alda Bandeira Tavares Vaz da Conceição is a politician in São Tomé and Príncipe.Bandeira was a founder of the Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group, which won legislative elections in 1991. She served as foreign minister from 1991 until 1993. In 1996 she ran for president of the country,...

.

At the legislative elections

São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 2002

On 3 March 2002, São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. Voter turnout was 66.3 percent.-Background and outcome of elections:...

, March 3, 2002, the party won together with the Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party

Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party

The Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party is a political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It was formed after the 29 July 2001 presidential elections by supporters of the elected president Fradique de Menezes...

 (MDFM-PL) 39.4% of the popular vote and 23 out of 55 seats. The same alliance won at the legislative election

São Tomé and Príncipe legislative election, 2006

São Tomé and Príncipe held its fifth National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990 on 26 March 2006.-Parties and Coalitions:Eight political parties and two coalitions contested the election....

, held on 26 March 2006, 36.79% and 23 out of 55 seats. The party supported incumbent Fradique de Menezes in the 30 July 2006 presidential election

São Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 2006

São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth presidential election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990 on 30 July 2006. Incumbent Fradique de Menezes, first elected in 2001, won more than 60 per cent of the votes, while his main challenger, Patrice Trovoada got just over 38 per cent of...

. He was re-elected with 60.58% of the vote.