| 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 |
| Party: | PCD |
| Birth Date: | 1965 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Caué District, Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Term End: | 8 November 2022 |
| Birth Name: | Delfim Santiago das Neves |
| Alma Mater: | Federal University of Santa Catarina |
| Children: | 4 |
Delfim Santiago das Neves (born 5 June 1965)[1] is a São Toméan politician, currently serving as president of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe since 2018.[2] On 25 November 2022 Neves was arrested on charges of leading the 2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt.
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.[3]
In 2018, Neves became the president of the Democratic Convergence Party.[4] 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.[5] In his inaugartion speech, he declared Alda do Espírito Santo and Francisco da Silva were his inspirations.[6]
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.[7] He contested results alleging “massive electoral fraud” but was rejected by the Constitutional Court, with international observers praising the election.[8] [9] [10]
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.[11]