Maria das Neves
Maria das Neves | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Das Neves in 2015 | |
| 11th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe | |
| In office 7 October 2002 – 18 September 2004* | |
| President | Fradique de Menezes |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Costa |
| Succeeded by | Damião Vaz d'Almeida |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 (age 66–67) São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| *Das Neves was briefly deposed from 16 July 2003 – 23 July 2003 by Fernando Pereira. | |
Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa (born 1958) served as the 11th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe. She was a key figure in the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD) and became the first woman head of government in the country.
Early life and career
[edit]Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa was born in 1958.[1][2] Das Neves studied public finance in Cuba.[1] She worked at the Ministry of Finance,[1] where she was involved with the African Development Bank.[2] She also worked at the World Bank and at UNICEF.[1] Das Neves married and had two children.[1]
Das Neves became Minister of Economics in 1999. In 2001 her position changed to Minister of Finance, and in 2002 she instead became Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism.[1] Following the 2002 parliamentary election, no party obtained a majority of the legislature. They formed a coalition under Gabriel Costa, and das Neves remained in the cabinet, but the coalition was short-lived.[1] The three major parties chose das Neves as a compromise candidate to succeed him as Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe.[3]
Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
[edit]Das Neves became prime minister on 3 October 2002. She was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe.[2] She included several women in her cabinet, making up four of the eleven members.[1] Das Neves considered the country's external debt to be the most important political issue to address during her premiership.[1] She worked to develop industry in São Tomé and Príncipe with an emphasis on oil.[3] She was worried about making the economy too dependent on oil but did not have enough support from the president or the legislature to enact policy to diversify the economy.[1] Das Neves also focused on developing a tourism industry for the country.[3]
A military coup took place in 2003, and das Neves was arrested along with the rest of the government.[1] She had a heart attack during the coup.[2] An agreement led to the end of the coup a week later, and das Neves was taken to the hospital.[1] She resigned as prime minister on 9 August 2003, but President Fradique de Menezes convinced her to stay and she was sworn in on the same day.[2] She then formed a new government.[2][1]
Das Neves was accused of corruption on 15 September 2004,[2] when she was accused of misusing aid.[1] De Menezes dissolved her government on 18 September 2004.[2] She said that the allegations were a plot against her and that de Menezes was corrupt.[1]
Post-premiership
[edit]Das Neves was elected to the National Assembly in the 2006 parliamentary election. While serving in the legislature she chaired the Committee on Human Rights and Gender Issues where she successfully pushed for criminalisation of battery against a woman.[1] Das Neves ran in the 2011 presidential election and won 14 percent of the vote.[1]
Maria das Neves is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Skard, Torild (2014) [2012]. "Political squeeze in São Tomé and Príncipe: Maria das Neves and Maria do Carmo Silveira". Women of Power: Half a Century of Female Presidents and Prime Ministers Worldwide. Policy Press. pp. 298–301. ISBN 978-1-4473-1580-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Johri, Meera (2010). "Maria Das Neves". Women in Power: Profiles of Women Presidents and Prime Ministers of the World. Rajpal & Sons. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-81-7028-891-6.
- ^ a b c Jalalzai, Farida (2013). Shattered, Cracked or Firmly Intact? Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-19-994353-1.
Further reading
[edit]News articles
[edit]- BBC news video from 14 October 2002
- Afrol News article from September 22, 2004
- Afrol News article from February 17, 2005
- 1958 births
- Government ministers of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Living people
- Prime ministers of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party politicians
- São Tomé and Príncipe economists
- Women government ministers of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Women prime ministers in Africa
- Female finance ministers
- 20th-century São Tomé and Príncipe politicians
- 20th-century São Tomé and Príncipe women politicians
- 21st-century São Tomé and Príncipe politicians
- 21st-century São Tomé and Príncipe women politicians
- 21st-century women prime ministers
- São Tomé and Príncipe women
- First women prime ministers