Paulo Veiga Seeks to Break Cape Verde Political Deadlock
The newly elected president of Cape Verde’s Movement for Democracy (MpD), Paulo Veiga, has signaled a willingness to cross the political aisle to break the country’s legislative deadlock. In an interview with Lusa, the opposition leader confirmed he is open to “understandings” with the ruling government to advance the national interest.
Following his victory, Veiga received a congratulatory call from Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). The two leaders held a ten-minute conversation that Veiga described as productive. “We will, despite our differences, find the best paths for Cape Verde,” he assured.
Breaking the Institutional Deadlock
A primary focus for Veiga is the urgent need to appoint members to external government bodies, a process that requires bipartisan agreement. Currently, vital institutions like the Constitutional Court and the National Elections Commission (CNE) are operating two mandates behind schedule.
“It is a problem affecting the country, and we have immediately shown total openness to reaching agreements,” Veiga said. “The country cannot continue like this.”
Scrutinizing the 2027 Budget
While open to cooperation, Veiga remains a sharp critic of the government’s fiscal policy. The MpD has already assembled a specialized team to analyze the upcoming 2027 State Budget. Veiga expressed skepticism regarding the government’s spending habits, specifically the promise of free public services.
“The idea of giving everything for free worries us because there must be something in return. Money doesn’t fall from the sky,” he noted. He further criticized the government for administrative contradictions, alleging they are creating new bureaucratic bodies while claiming to eliminate old ones.
Veiga also raised alarms over the rising cost of living, questioning why the current administration abandoned measures previously implemented to mitigate skyrocketing fuel prices.
A New Direction for the MpD
Despite not holding a seat in the National Assembly, Veiga dismissed concerns that his absence from parliament would weaken his leadership. Instead, he views it as an opportunity to focus on internal party organization and strategy.
Looking outward, Veiga called for Cape Verde to pivot toward Africa. While acknowledging that both major parties have historically paid lip service to continental relations, he argued that more concrete attention is required. He pledged to strengthen international partnerships while remaining rooted in the MpD’s core values of democracy, republicanism, and human rights.
The Road Ahead
Veiga secured his leadership by winning 22 of the 32 internal districts, garnering 4,545 votes—more than his two opponents combined. He succeeds former Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, who stepped down following the MpD’s electoral defeat in May.
The current political landscape sees the PAICV holding a slim absolute majority with 37 of the 72 seats in the National Assembly, while the MpD holds 33. The XIV National Convention, where Veiga will officially take the reins, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Image: Pexels – Jan van der Wolf
