Janira Hopffer Almada: Cape Verde’s First Female Speaker
PRAIA, Cape Verde — In a historic milestone for the West African nation, Janira Hopffer Almada was elected on Tuesday as the first female President of the National Assembly of Cape Verde. Her landslide victory marks a significant shift in the country’s political landscape as the 11th legislature officially commences.
Almada, representing the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), ran as the sole candidate for the speakership. She secured an overwhelming 63 votes in favor, with only five against, three abstentions, and one blank vote. Her election follows the PAICV’s victory in the May 17 legislative elections, where the party reclaimed power by securing a 37-seat majority in the 72-member parliament.
A Trailblazer in Cape Verdean Politics
At 47, Almada brings a wealth of experience to the role, succeeding Austelino Correia of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), which had held the presidency for the past decade. A lawyer by profession, Almada is no stranger to breaking glass ceilings; she previously served as the first female leader of the PAICV between 2014 and 2021 and was the party’s youngest-ever leader.
Her political career began at a rapid pace. In 2008, just months before her 30th birthday, she was appointed Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs. She later took the helm of the Ministry for Youth, Employment, and Human Resources Development in 2011 under then-Prime Minister José Maria Neves, who currently serves as the nation’s President.
Resilience and Return
Almada’s journey to the speakership has been marked by both high-profile leadership and periods of reflection. After leading the PAICV through two unsuccessful legislative campaigns in 2016 and 2021, she resigned from the party leadership. However, she remained a vocal force in parliament, returning to active legislative debate in 2022 to challenge the government’s direction.
Her path to the presidency was solidified after the PAICV’s internal shifts in 2025. Following the election of Francisco Carvalho as party leader—and now Prime Minister-designate—Almada joined the party’s permanent commission. Carvalho has publicly credited Almada’s support as a cornerstone of his own political success, highlighting their long-standing alliance.
Educated at the University of Coimbra with a degree and postgraduate specialization in Corporate Law, Almada now takes the gavel at a pivotal time for the archipelago. As President of the National Assembly, she will oversee the legislative agenda for a nation looking toward a new era of governance under the PAICV majority.
Image: Pexels – Jan van der Wolf
