Cape Verde PM Unveils New Program Amid Legal Turmoil
PRAIA, Cape Verde — Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho presented his new government program to Parliament on Wednesday, pledging a “new course” for the nation centered on tackling poverty, restoring political trust, and overhauling the country’s infrastructure.
A Focus on Modernization and Basic Needs
Representing the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which secured an absolute majority in the May 17 elections, Carvalho introduced the “Cape Verde for All” agenda. The roadmap outlines a strategy for structural transformation, emphasizing free access to healthcare, public universities, and professional training.
Key pillars of the program include:
- Transport: Developing an affordable and reliable inter-island transport system to better connect the archipelago.
- Economic Growth: A new agenda focused on private investment, the “blue economy” (marine resources), and the digital and energy transition.
- Governance: Reforms to public administration and the justice system, including faster legal proceedings and a crackdown on corruption.
- Security: The introduction of community policing models and support for municipal police forces.
“This program was designed to respond to the fundamental issues in the lives of Cape Verdeans,” Carvalho told lawmakers, framing the mandate as a commitment to sustainable development and transparency.
Opposition Skepticism
The program met immediate resistance from the opposition. Luís Carlos Silva, parliamentary leader of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), dismissed the document as an unrealistic “wish list.”
“Everything is strategic, everything is a priority, and everything is urgent,” Silva remarked, arguing that the program lacks focus and fails to reconcile the goal of reducing the size of the state with the creation of new administrative bodies.
João Santos Luís, president of the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID), agreed that while the vision is transformative, it lacks financial specifics. “It cannot just be a catalog of good intentions,” Luís warned. “It must be a credible, executable, and financially sustainable instrument.”
Legal Shadow Over the New Executive
The debate comes at a volatile moment for Carvalho. Just three days ago, the Public Prosecutor’s Office charged the Prime Minister with 26 alleged crimes stemming from his tenure as the Mayor of Praia. The charges include abuse of power, embezzlement, and passive corruption.
Carvalho has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the indictment a “coup d’état disguised as opposition” and a targeted campaign of political persecution. While the MpD cited the legal proceedings as a primary reason to vote against the government’s motion of confidence, the PAICV remains steadfast in its support of the Prime Minister.
Despite the controversy, the program is expected to pass, as the PAICV holds 37 of the 72 seats in Parliament.
Image: Pexels – Jan van der Wolf
