Cape Verde Legislative Elections: 230 Observers Arrive
Cape Verde is set to welcome approximately 230 international observers for its legislative elections this Sunday, as the archipelago looks to uphold its reputation for democratic stability and transparency.
During a reception for foreign missions on Saturday, Maria do Rosário Gonçalves, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), reinforced the nation’s commitment to its democratic history. She noted that Cape Verde has successfully consolidated a “democratic path” defined by the regular holding of “free, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections.”
International Missions Monitor the Vote
Leading the observation efforts is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has deployed the largest delegation of 120 participants. Other significant missions include the African Union (AU) with 46 observers and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) with 22. An additional 11 monitors will represent the Network of Jurisdictional and Electoral Administration Bodies (ROJAE-CPLP).
Baboucar Jagne, head of the ECOWAS mission, expressed confidence in the proceedings, stating he expects a “peaceful, transparent, and credible” process that aligns with the archipelago’s historical standards.
The Battle for Parliament
Voters will head to approximately 1,000 polling stations across the islands and more than 200 in the diaspora on Sunday. Polls are scheduled to be open from 08:00 to 18:00 local time.
At stake are 72 seats in the National Assembly. The CNE has admitted 48 candidate lists, featuring 556 candidates (300 principals and 256 substitutes). About 416,300 voters are registered for this legislative cycle—a 6% increase since 2021. Notably, the diaspora now accounts for more than one-sixth of the total electorate.
Historical Trends and High Stakes
Participation remains a key point of focus for officials. In 2016, voter abstention stood at 34%, a figure that rose to 42% in 2021 due to COVID-19 mobility restrictions. This year, authorities are watching to see if turnout rebounds as pandemic-era obstacles have faded.
Cape Verdean politics have been defined by a decades-long alternation of power between two major parties: the Movement for Democracy (MpD) and the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). Since the nation’s first free elections in 1991, every winning party has secured an absolute majority. The MpD currently holds power after winning the 2016 and 2021 elections, following a 15-year tenure by the PAICV.
Image: Pexels – Mikhail Nilov
