in june 2008, after prime minister patrice trovoada of the independent democratic action (adi) party was defeated in a vote of no confidence, president fradique de menezes asked the mlstp/psd to form a government, and it chose branco to become the next prime minister. the adi denounced menezes' designation of the mlstp/psd to form a government as unconstitutional, arguing that it was too late in the parliamentary term to do so, and it took the matter to the supreme tribunal of justice.