Cape Verde President Urges Privacy in Public Appointments
Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves is calling for a policy of confidentiality regarding nominees for public office, arguing that names should only be made public once a formal consensus has been reached between the country’s governing bodies.
Avoiding “Person-Centered” Debates
Speaking to journalists during a tour of Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia, President Neves emphasized that premature disclosures shift the focus of public discourse away from the requirements of the job and onto the individual personalities involved.
“We should not reveal names before there is consensus,” Neves stated. “This prevents the discussion, instead of focusing on institutional requirements, from becoming centered on the individuals’ names.”
The Rejection of Júlio Martins
The President’s comments follow his recent decision to reject the government’s nomination of Júlio Martins for the position of Attorney General (PGR). Martins, who previously served as Attorney General from 2008 to 2014 and has recently worked in Timor-Leste’s justice sector, was the preferred choice of Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho.
Neves justified the rejection by citing “legal-disciplinary issues” involving the jurist. Specifically, the President noted that Martins had previously been dismissed for abandoning his post and currently has pending legal proceedings contesting the validity of that dismissal. Neves argued that these factors undermined the institutional prerequisites for the role.
No Signs of an Institutional Crisis
Despite the disagreement over the appointment, President Neves dismissed suggestions that the country is facing an institutional crisis. He maintained that the rejection was a sign of a healthy democracy where the separation of powers is respected.
“When each institution fulfills its role, there is no place for any crisis,” Neves said. “We must understand the Constitution well and the role of each sovereign body. Things functioned according to the Constitution.”
Under Cape Verdean law, the appointment of the Attorney General is a shared competence, requiring the government to propose a candidate and the President to grant formal approval.
Government Prepares New Proposal
Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho echoed the President’s sentiment regarding the stability of the government, describing the rejection as part of the “democratic game.”
The Prime Minister confirmed on Tuesday that the government accepts the decision and is already preparing to propose a new candidate for the post. “When the democratic game happens, it is not meant to be startling,” Carvalho said. “It shows that democracy is happening.”
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
