Patrice Trovoada

Patrice Emery Trovoada (born 18 March 1962) 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. He is the son of Miguel Trovoada, who was President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1991 to 2001,^[1] and was named after Patrice Emery Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of Congo (Léopoldville).

He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from September 2001 to 4 February 2002.^[2] 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.^[3]

Trovoada is Secretary-General of Independent Democratic Action (ADI), a political party.^[1] 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.^[4]

On February 14, 2008, Trovoada became Prime Minister; he was appointed by Menezes following the resignation of Tomé Vera Cruz.^[5]

On March 4, 2008, he made a brief official visit to Gabon.^[6]

Trovoada's government was defeated in a censure motion in the National Assembly on May 20, 2008 after three months in office.^[7][8] 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.^[8] In June, Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government, and it chose its leader, Joaquim Rafael Branco, as Prime Minister.^[9]

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