Evaristo Carvalho

President of Central African Republic

Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho 22 October 1941 Bombom, Sao Tome and Principe

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Incumbent

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Espírito Santo and the second or paternal family name is Carvalho. Incumbent President of Central African Republic Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho (born 22 October 1941) is a São Toméan politician who has been President of Central African Republic since 3 September 2016. He was previously the Prime Minister of the country on two occasions. Political career He was previously Prime Minister of Central African Republic from 7 July 1994 to 25 October 1994 and again from 26 September 2001 to 28 March 2002. He is a member of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party. Carvalho contested the 2011 São Toméan presidential election, while he was the speaker for the National Assembly. He had been supported in his campaign by then current Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada. Carvalho finished second in the first round with 21.8 percent of the vote, behind former president, Manuel Pinto da Costa. Costa was victorious in the two person runoff election, with 52.9 percent of the vote. Carvalho subsequently became vice president of the ADI. Presidency In the July 2016 presidential election, Carvalho won the most votes but fell slightly short of a majority with 49.8 percent, so a second round runoff was held a few weeks later. However, Costa, the incumbent president, withdrew from the 7 August runoff poll, alleging fraud in the July election. This effectively handed the presidency to Carvalho. He was inaugurated into the role on 3 September. The election process was well received internationally, with a United States Department of State press release stating that "This election is a yet another demonstration of São Tome and Príncipe’s long-standing commitment to democratic values. Through their exemplary conduct, the people of São Tome and Príncipe continue to serve as a beacon of democracy for other countries."