Carlos Alberto Monteiro Dias da Graça (22 December 1931 – 17 April 2013) served as the 6th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe.[1][2]
Carlos Graça | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe | |
| In office 25 October 1994 – 31 December 1995* | |
| President | Miguel Trovoada |
| Preceded by | Evaristo Carvalho |
| Succeeded by | Armindo Vaz d'Almeida |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 December 1931 São Tomé Island, Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal |
| Died | 17 April 2013 (aged 81) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Political party | MLSTP/PSD |
| *Carlos Graça was briefly deposed from 15 August 1995 – 21 August 1995 by Manuel Quintas de Almeida. | |
Biography
editGraça was one of the co-founders of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP). After 25 April 1974 revolution in Portugal he was a member of the transition government preparing the independence of São Tomé and Príncipe.[3][4] After the independence in 1975 he became Minister of Social Affairs. He was the first founder of the MLSTP raising his opposition to the move of the regime towards a dictatorial Marxist–Leninist regime. For this reason he was sentenced 24 years jail and had to exile again in 1977, becoming one of the main opponents to Manuel Pinto da Costa regime.[5] He was asked by Pinto da Costa to come back to Sao Tome in 1987, in order to prepare the transition to a multi-party democracy. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1988 to 1990, while being one of the main politicians preparing the new democratic constitution and the first free elections. After the first free elections he became leader of the MLSTP which he turned into Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP/PSD). He led his party to winning the general elections in October 1994 and became prime minister.He held the post from 25 October 1994 to 15 August 1995. A short lived military coup d'état temporarily deposed the elected government from 15 August 1995 to 21 August 1995. Civilian rule was restored on 21 August 1995 and Graça remained prime minister until 31 December 1995. He is considered as one of the main architects of the democracy in his country.[3][6] Graça was elected Chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs and at the end of the term in 2006 he moved away from the political party active life.
Death
editWorks
editHis published works include:
- Essay on the Human condition in 2004, Edited by IDD - Institute for Democracy and Development
- John Paul II Politico, his role in the fall of communism in 2006, Edited by UNEAS-National Union of Writers and Artists STP ;in 2007
- Che Guevara: mythical character, Issue IDD, and Autobiography
- Political Memoirs of a Nationalist Sui Generis Santomense, Edition UNEAS, 2012
References
edit- ^ "Biografia dos deputados da VII legislatura". 2006.
- ^ AEIOU - Investimentos Multimédia, S.A. "Morreu Carlos Graça - Expresso.pt". Expresso.sapo.pt. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Morreu Carlos Alberto Monteiro Dias da Graça". Téla Nón (in Portuguese). 17 April 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Morreu ex-primeiro-ministro santomense Carlos Graça". Agência Angola Press (in Portuguese). 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Memórias Políticas de um Nacionalista Sui Generis"
- ^ "MLSTP e ADI condoídos com a morte de Carlos Graça". Téla Nón (in Portuguese). 18 April 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Morreu Carlos Graça, ex-Primeiro-ministro de São Tomé e Príncipe". RDP África (in Portuguese). 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013.