An intellectual as prime-minister in São Tomé and Príncipe
The new prime minister of São Tomé and Principe, Jorge Bom Jesus is considered an intellectual and pedagogue in absolute contrast with that of hispredecessor, Patrice Émery Trovoada, the country’s biggest businessman.
Born in Água Grande, São Tomé, Jorge Lopes Bom Jesus is the youngest of three brothers. He is married to Clara Ferreira Bom Jesus, and has 5 children.
The new prime minister holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Portuguese Literature, with an undergraduate degree in Portuguese Language, a specialty in African Literature by
University of Toulouse, France.
In the same university he obtained a degree in Pedagogy of French as a Foreign Language, with specialization in Pedagogy of Portuguese. He also attended a PhD in Public Administration at the University of São Tomé and Príncipe.
With a moderate, consensual profile and humble origins, its social ascent is related mainly to the prestige as teacher, and responsibilities in organisms of the
State or as a member of the government.
His professional background includes the positions of adviser to the Minister of Culture and Information, Director-General for Education and Training, Secretary-General of the Commission National for UNESCO, Director of Planning and Educational Innovation, Director of the School of Teacher and Educator Training, President of the French Alliance, and several years as a teacher.
Between 2008 and 2010, under the government of Rafael Branco, he was Minister of Education and Culture and from 2012 to 2014 he served as Minister of Education, Culture and Science in government of Gabriel Costa.
Member of the Political Commission of the MLSTP-PSD as of 2006, Jorge Bom Jesus was elected vice-president of the party in 2011, when Aurélio Martins was president.
As a militant and a member of the leadership of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), he has always maintained a discreet and conciliatory position, even in times of great turmoil or internal divisions.
It was these attributes that led to his choice to manage the transition between the end of the second leadership of Aurélio Martins and the holding of the 2018 Congress, in which he would be elected unanimously as prime-minister.
Considered a shy person during the election campaign, Jorge Bom Jesus surprised, managing to galvanize the bases of the MLSTP-PSD and put the party in the center of the dispute, to the point that many considered that the party victory were mainly due to his leadership.
The affable and close manner was one of its great advantages during the campaign.
After being elected, he resumed one of the features of his rallies, that of speaking in “Creole” , in his inauguration speech – the first time a new head of government did it.
Education Specialist, the new prime minister is now engaged in a rapid apprenticeship of economic.
The economic and financial situation of São Tomé and Príncipe is, moreover, its main concern at the level of the coalition, which still includes members of the MDFM, PCD and UDD.
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