PAICV Wins Majority in Cape Verde Amid Record Low Turnout
The Cape Verdean National Elections Commission (CNE) has officially proclaimed the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) as the winner of the May 17 legislative elections. The victory marks a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape, granting the PAICV an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
A Decisive Shift in Power
In a press conference held in Praia, CNE President Maria do Rosário Gonçalves confirmed that the PAICV secured 37 out of the 72 seats in the National Assembly. This result unseats the Movement for Democracy (MpD), which held power for two consecutive terms spanning a decade. The MpD saw its representation drop to 33 deputies, while the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID) also suffered losses, falling from four seats to two.
The final tallies show the PAICV captured 90,660 votes (48.04%), followed by the MpD with 84,458 votes (44.75%) and the UCID with 9,812 votes (5.2%). Smaller parties, including the Labor and Solidarity Party (PTS) and the People’s Party, failed to secure parliamentary representation.
Record Low Voter Turnout
Despite the clarity of the result, the election was marred by a concerning trend: record-breaking voter absenteeism. For the first time, more than half of registered voters—53.5%—stayed home. This confirms a steady decline in participation over the last fifteen years; abstention was just 24% in 2011, rising to 34% in 2016 and 42.6% in 2021.
The total number of valid votes cast was 188,727, a sharp decrease from the 220,258 votes recorded in the previous 2021 election.
Looking Ahead: Forming a Government
The new parliament will feature a near-even gender split, composed of 38 men and 34 women. With the results officially published in the Official Gazette, the path is clear for the President of the Republic to consult with political leaders and formally invite the PAICV to form the next government. The newly elected parliament is required to hold its first session within the next 20 days.
While the CNE has verified all physical ballots, President Gonçalves acknowledged “technical insufficiencies” on the official election website, which had prevented the final results from appearing online during the proclamation. She assured the public that technical teams are working to resolve the digital update.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
