Patrice Trovoada

Patrice Émery Trovoada (born 18 March 1962) is a São Toméan politician who was Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from November 2014 to December 2018. He previously served as Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008 and again from August 2010 to December 2012.

Patrice Trovoada
15th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
In office 25 November 2014 – 3 December 2018
President	Manuel Pinto da Costa Evaristo Carvalho
Preceded by	Gabriel Costa
Succeeded by	Jorge Bom Jesus
In office 14 August 2010 – 12 December 2012
President	Fradique de Menezes Manuel Pinto da Costa
Preceded by	Joaquim Rafael Branco
Succeeded by	Gabriel Costa
In office 14 February 2008 – 22 June 2008
President	Fradique de Menezes
Preceded by	Tomé Vera Cruz
Succeeded by	Joaquim Rafael Branco
Personal details
Born	18 March 1962 Libreville, Gabon
Political party	Independent Democratic Action
Spouse(s)	Nana Travoada

Life and career

Trovoada was born in Libreville, Gabon.[1] He is the son of Miguel Trovoada, who was President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1991 to 2001,[2] and was named after Patrice Lumumba,[1] the first Prime Minister of Congo (Léopoldville). He studied in Portugal and France.[3]

He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from September 2001 to 4 February 2002.[4] He was also oil adviser to President Fradique de Menezes until Menezes fired him in May 2005, alleging that Trovoada had used his position to advance his business interests.[5]

Trovoada is Secretary-General of Independent Democratic Action (ADI), a political party.[2] He ran for President in the July 2006 presidential election, but was defeated by Menezes, the incumbent president. Trovoada was the only major opposition candidate and he received 38.82% of the vote.[6]

On February 14, 2008, Trovoada became Prime Minister; he was appointed by Menezes following the resignation of Tomé Vera Cruz.[7]

On March 4, 2008, he made a brief official visit to Gabon.[8]

Trovoada's government was defeated in a censure motion in the National Assembly on May 20, 2008 after three months in office.[9][10] The motion, introduced by the opposition Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD), received 30 votes in favor, 23 opposed, and two abstaining.[10] In June, Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government, and it chose its leader, Joaquim Rafael Branco, as Prime Minister.[11]

After the 2010 parliamentary election, Trovoada returned as Prime Minister on August 14, 2010, but left office on December 13, 2012, after his government had lost its majority in parliament. However, the parliamentary election of 2014 again produced a majority for Trovoada's Independent Democratic Action party, with 33 of the 55 seats in the National Assembly, and he was again appointed to head a new government.

References

1. Albertino Francisco and Nujoma Agostinho, Exorcising Devils from the Throne: São Tomé and Príncipe in the Chaos of Democratization (Algora Publishing, 2011) p81
2. "De Menezes looks set for second term", AFP, August 1, 2006.
3. "Perfil: Patrice Trovoada, primeiro-ministro de São Tomé e Príncipe" (in Portuguese). Xinhua.net. 12 April 2017.
4. Rulers.org, September 2001 and February 2002.
5. "Oil minister resigns as controversy dogs award of second offshore block", IRIN, May 18, 2005.
6. Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe, African Elections Database.
7. "Investiture du nouveau gouvernement santoméen", Panapress, February 15, 2008 (in French).
8. "Le Premier ministre santoméen arrive à Libreville", Xinhua, March 5, 2008 (in French).
9. "Sao Tome MPs pass no confidence motion against government", Radio France Internationale, May 20, 2008.
10. "Parlamento são-tomense aprova moção de censura contra Governo", Panapress, May 20, 2008 (in Portuguese).
11. "Líder da oposição em São Tomé Príncipe designado primeiro-ministro" Archived December 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Panapress, June 12, 2008 (in Portuguese).