Carlos Graça

Carlos Alberto Monteiro Dias da Graça (22 December 1931 – 17 April 2013) as a 6th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe.[1][2]

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Monteiro Dias and the second or paternal family name is Graça.

Carlos Graça
6th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
In office 25 October 1994 – 31 December 1995
Preceded by	Evaristo Carvalho
Succeeded by	Armindo Vaz d'Almeida
Personal details
Born	(1931-12-22)22 December 1931 São Tomé Island, Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal
Died	17 April 2013(2013-04-17) (aged 81) Lisbon, Portugal
Political party	MLSTP/PSD

Biography

He 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 MLSTP/PSD Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata. 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[6][7] He was elected Chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs and in the end of term in 2006 moved away from the political party active life.

Death

He died in 17 April 2013 in Lisbon at the age of 81.[8]

Works

He published some works such as:

• 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

2. AEIOU - Investimentos Multimédia, S.A. "Morreu Carlos Graça - Expresso.pt". Expresso.sapo.pt. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
4. http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/africa/2013/3/16/Morreu-primeiro-ministro-santomense-Carlos-Graca,520d0324-5500-4006-90b3-877be5479034.html.
5. "Memórias Políticas de um Nacionalista Sui Generis"
6. http://www.telanon.info/sociedade/2013/04/17/12972/morreu-carlos-alberto-monteiro-dias-da-graca/
7. http://www.telanon.info/politica/2013/04/18/12978/mlstp-e-adi-condoidos-com-a-morte-de-carlos-graca/
8. Morreu Carlos Graça, ex-Primeiro-ministro de São Tomé e Príncipe

Government offices
Preceded by Evaristo Carvalho	Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe 1994–1995	Succeeded by Armindo Vaz d'Almeida
Political offices
Preceded by Guilherme Posser da Costa	Foreign Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe 1988–1990	Succeeded by Guilherme Posser da Costa