Fradique de Menezes
Encyclopedia
Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes (born March 21, 1942) was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe
from 2003 to 2011.
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
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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São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
from 2003 to 2011.
Early life
Menezes was born on the then Portuguese colony of São ToméSão Tomé
-Transport:São Tomé is served by São Tomé International Airport with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.-Climate:São Tomé features a tropical wet and dry climate with a relatively lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The wet season runs from October through May while the...
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
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels
The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. In 1969, it split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel....
Career
Menezes is a successful businessman. He was Foreign Minister of São Tome and Príncipe from 1986 until 1987. He was electedSão Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 2001
The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe held presidential elections on 29 July 2001. It was the nation's third presidential election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990...
President in July 2001 with about 55.2% of the vote, defeating Manuel Pinto da Costa
Manuel Pinto da Costa
Manuel Pinto da Costa is a Santoméan economist and politician who served as the first President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1975 to 1991. He was again elected as President in August 2011 and took office on 3 September 2011....
, who received about 40%. Menezes took office on September 3, 2001. His eligibility as a candidate was questioned, since he also held Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
citizenship, but he renounced this and his candidacy was approved. On July 16, 2003, while he was away in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, there was a military coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
led by Fernando Pereira, but Menezes was restored to power on July 23, 2003, following an agreement.
Menezes was re-elected
São Tomé and Príncipe presidential election, 2006
São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth presidential election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990 on 30 July 2006. Incumbent Fradique de Menezes, first elected in 2001, won more than 60 per cent of the votes, while his main challenger, Patrice Trovoada got just over 38 per cent of...
on July 30, 2006, winning 60.58% of the vote and defeating Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Trovoada
Patrice Emery Trovoada is a São Toméan politician. He has been Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe since 14 August 2010; previously he was Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008.Trovoada was born in Libreville, Gabon...
, son of former president Miguel Trovoada
Miguel Trovoada
Miguel dos Anjos da Cunha Lisboa Trovoada was Prime Minister and President of São Tomé and Príncipe. Currently he is the Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.-Background:...
.
The discovery of a coup plot allegedly involving Christian Democratic Front
Christian Democratic Front
The Christian Democratic Front is a small political party in São Tomé and Príncipe. It failed to win any seats in the National Assembly following elections held on 26 March 2006....
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".
External links
- President Menezes' address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 26, 2008
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