Joaquim Rafael Branco (born 7 September 1953)[1] is a São Toméan politician who was the 16th 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).[2]

Joaquim Rafael Branco
Branco in 2008
16th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
In office
22 June 2008 – 14 August 2010
PresidentFradique de Menezes
Preceded byPatrice Trovoada
Succeeded byPatrice Trovoada
Personal details
Born (1953-09-07) 7 September 1953 (age 71)
Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal
Political partyMovement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party

Life and career

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Branco was Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1996.[3] He 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.[2] Trovoada's Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Rafael Branco | Bertrand Livreiros - livraria Online".
  2. ^ a b "Líder da oposição em São Tomé Príncipe designado primeiro-ministro", Panapress, June 12, 2008 (in Portuguese).
  3. ^ Seibert, Gerhard (1 May 2006). "Comrades, Clients and Cousins: Colonialism, Socialism and Democratization in São Tomé and Príncipe". BRILL.
  4. ^ "Partido de PM destituído contra nomeação de novo Governo são-tomense", Panapress, June 16, 2008 (in Portuguese).
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
2000–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
2008–2010