Cape Verde’s MpD Launches Party Senate & Political School
In a bold move to bridge the gap between party tradition and future innovation, the newly elected president of Cape Verde’s Movement for Democracy (MpD), Paulo Veiga, has announced the formation of a “Party Senate” and a dedicated political training school.
Honoring the Past to Secure the Future
Speaking at the closing of the MpD’s 14th National Convention in Praia, Veiga emphasized that the party’s survival depends on honoring its roots. “A party that does not honor its history will hardly be able to build its future,” Veiga told delegates. “The history of the MpD is worth much more than a museum display case. We want it to remain alive, present, and at the service of our generations.”
The newly formed Senate will serve as a 45-member advisory body, bringing together the “memory, values, and experience” of the leaders who shaped the MpD into a cornerstone of Cape Verdean politics. The body will be chaired by Carlos Veiga, whom Paulo Veiga described as the ultimate symbol of the party’s continuity.
Investing in New Leadership
In addition to the Senate, Veiga announced the establishment of a political school named after José Filomeno Monteiro, the late Foreign Minister who passed away in December 2025. The school aims to formalize the training of the next generation of MpD leaders, ensuring the party remains competitive and ideologically grounded.
A Show of Unity
The convention served as a powerful display of internal solidarity following recent leadership contests. Veiga’s new National Directorate was elected with an overwhelming majority—214 votes out of 232 delegates. The spirit of reconciliation was further cemented by a public embrace between Veiga and his former rivals for the presidency, Hermínio Fernandes and Luís Filipe Tavares.
Structural Reforms
Delegates also approved significant statutory changes to the party’s governing bodies:
- National Directorate: Expanded from 64 to 72 members, with increased representation for municipal and diaspora branches (up from 52 to 63 seats).
- National Political Commission: Streamlined from 26 down to 21 members to improve efficiency.
- Leadership Team: Veiga announced three of his six vice-presidents: deputies Orlando Dias, Celso Ribeiro, and Isa Costa. The remaining three are expected to be named shortly.
As the MpD positions itself as the primary opposition force, these reforms signal a dual strategy of leveraging the wisdom of veteran statespeople while modernizing its internal machinery for upcoming electoral challenges.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
