Joaquim Rafael Branco

Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 June 2008

President : Fradique de Menezes

Preceded by : Patrice Trovoada

Born : 1953

Political party : MLSTP-PSD

Joaquim Rafael Branco (born 1953) is a São Toméan politician. He is the President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).[1]
Branco served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2001. He was Minister of Public Works in July 2003, when he was detained by the military during a briefly successful coup d’etat led by Major Fernando Pereira.
After Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada was defeated in a May 2008 vote of no confidence proposed by the MLSTP/PSD, which was then in opposition, President Fradique de Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government in June 2008, and it chose Branco to become the next Prime Minister.[1] Trovoada’s Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party denounced Menezes’ designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional.[2]

References

1. ^ a b “Líder da oposição em São Tomé Príncipe designado primeiro-ministro”, Panapress, June 12, 2008 (Portuguese).
2. ^ “Partido de PM destituído contra nomeação de novo Governo são-tomense”, Panapress, June 16, 2008 (Portuguese).