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 63–64) 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).
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. Trovoada's Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional.