Joaquim Rafael Branco

Joaquim Rafael Branco
Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
In office 22 June 2008 – 14 August 2010
President	Fradique de Menezes
Preceded by	Patrice Trovoada
Succeeded by	Patrice Trovoada
Personal details
Born	1953 (age 62–63) Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal
Political party	Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party

Joaquim Rafael Branco (born 1953) is a São Toméan politician who was Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2008 to 2010. He is the President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).^[1]

Life and career

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. "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).