Cape Verde Opposition Demands Fuel Subsidies Amid Price Hikes
PRAIA, Oct 02 – Cape Verde’s opposition leader, Paulo Veiga, has called on the government to immediately reinstate fuel price caps as citizens grapple with skyrocketing energy costs. Veiga, president of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), urged the current administration to adopt the same stabilization mechanisms utilized by the previous executive to shield consumers from global market volatility.
A Call for Immediate Intervention
During a press conference marking the first 100 days of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) government, Veiga proposed extending price limits to petrol, diesel, fishing fuels, and electricity production. He argued that these subsidies could be funded by the surplus tax revenue the state is currently collecting due to inflated prices.
“This is the measure that the MpD Government applied between April and June,” Veiga stated. “The State assumed about 70% of the price hikes during that period. On July 2, the new Government decided not to renew it, and the consequences are clear.”
Shocking Price Surges
Citing data from the national regulatory body, Veiga highlighted the dramatic inflation since the price caps were lifted. Since June, petrol prices have jumped 21%, while diesel has surged by 39%. The impact is even more severe in critical industries, with fishing diesel rising 61% and fuel for electricity production skyrocketing by 78%.
While the government recently decided to absorb 70% of the price increase for cooking gas, it has yet to apply similar measures to transport and industrial fuels. “The Government decided this for gas, and rightly so. But it chose not to do it for petrol and diesel,” Veiga said. “It is a choice they should own up to instead of simply blaming the international market.”
Record-High Costs
As of today, petrol in Cape Verde has reached 197.2 escudos (€1.79) per liter, with diesel climbing to 190.3 escudos (€1.73). These figures represent the highest prices the country has seen since at least January 2024 and mark the largest single-month increase in recent history.
In contrast, the price of cooking gas rose by a more modest 5.7% to 1,868 escudos (€16.96), a discrepancy Veiga attributes solely to the government’s selective mitigation measures.
Criticism of the First 100 Days
Beyond fuel costs, Veiga characterized the first 100 days of Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho’s administration as “profoundly disorganized.” He pointed to a lack of solutions for families on Fogo island facing power outages, struggling fishermen and taxi drivers, and the ongoing maritime isolation of Brava island.
The government announced on Thursday that it is currently “working” on a strategy to stabilize prices following October’s 12% spike. Prime Minister Carvalho is expected to address these criticisms and review his administration’s early performance in a scheduled press conference this Monday.
Image: Pexels – Erik Mclean
