Fradique de Menezes
| Fradique de Menezes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd President of São Tomé and Príncipe | |
|
In office 23 July 2003 – 3 September 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Maria das Neves Damião Vaz d'Almeida Maria do Carmo Silveira Tomé Vera Cruz Patrice Trovoada Joaquim Rafael Branco Patrice Trovoada |
| Preceded by | Fernando Pereira (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Pinto da Costa |
|
In office 3 September 2001 – 16 July 2003 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Guilherme Posser da Costa Evaristo Carvalho Gabriel Costa Maria das Neves |
| Preceded by | Miguel Trovoada |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Pereira (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 March 1942 São Tomé, Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal |
| Political party | Force for Change Democratic Movement-Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | Free University of Brussels |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes (born March 21, 1942) was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2003 to 2011.
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. He then studied at the Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada in Lisbon, Portugal and Free University of Brussels
Menezes is a successful businessman. He was Foreign Minister of São Tome and Príncipe from 1986 until 1987. He was elected President in July 2001 with about 55.2% of the vote, defeating Manuel Pinto da Costa, who received about 40%. Menezes took office on September 3, 2001. His eligibility as a candidate was questioned, since he also held Portuguese citizenship, but he renounced this and his candidacy was approved. On July 16, 2003, while he was away in Nigeria, there was a military coup d'etat led by Fernando Pereira, but Menezes was restored to power on July 23, 2003, following an agreement.
Menezes was re-elected on July 30, 2006, winning 60.58% of the vote and defeating Patrice Trovoada, son of former president Miguel Trovoada.
The discovery of a coup plot allegedly involving Christian Democratic Front leader Arlecio Costa was announced on February 12, 2009. Costa and more than 30 others were arrested. At a press conference on February 24, Menezes said that he was "touched" by the support of the security forces; he also said that he would be willing to leave office if he was "the reason that things are not working in this country".
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