José Maria Neves Seeks Second Term as Cape Verde President
PRAIA, Nov 8, 2026 — José Maria Neves has spent a lifetime in the public eye, serving as a mayor, member of parliament, and a record-breaking prime minister. Now 66, the incumbent President of Cape Verde is seeking a second term, driven by the belief that in public service, one can never truly “achieve everything.”
Chasing a Historic Precedent
As Cape Verde prepares for the November 15 elections, Neves is aiming to uphold a remarkable political tradition: every president elected by universal suffrage in the nation’s history who has sought a second term has successfully secured it. This includes predecessors Mascarenhas Monteiro, Pedro Pires, and Jorge Carlos Fonseca.
Neves is no stranger to breaking records. He remains the only prime minister since the 1990 transition to multi-party democracy to secure two consecutive absolute majorities, leading the country for 15 years.
From Revolutionary Roots to National Leadership
Born in 1960 in Santa Catarina on the island of Santiago, Neves’ political journey began in 1980 when he joined the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). He rose through the ranks to lead the party—later rebranded as the PAICV—in 2000.
After a brief stint as mayor of his home municipality, Neves catapulted to the national stage, winning the 2001 legislative elections. Following his long tenure as head of government, he transitioned to academia as a professor at the University of Cape Verde and established the José Maria Neves Foundation for Governance to promote democratic values.
“The essential thing is to work with everyone,” Neves told Lusa, reflecting on his first-round victory in 2021. For his 2026 campaign, he is doubling down on this message, citing his ability to “build bridges” and facilitate dialogue as his primary advantage over his challengers.
The Person Behind the Politician
Beyond the halls of power, Neves is a man of diverse interests. He is a social media enthusiast who frequently shares his own poetry with followers. His digital presence dates back to 2010 when he famously hit Facebook’s friend limit within six months of joining.
A passionate sports fan, he identifies as a “Blue Shark”—a nod to Cape Verde’s national football team. “The shark is a symbol of strength, courage, resilience, and determination,” Neves wrote in a recent post. “Values that also represent the Cape Verdean soul.”
His international ties are equally strong. Neves views Brazil as a “second homeland” where he completed his education, and he describes the relationship between Cape Verde and Portugal as a “benchmark” for cooperation between a former colony and an independent state.
The Road to November 15
As the election approaches, 426,531 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. Notably, 18% of the electorate—nearly 77,000 voters—reside in the diaspora, a group that could prove decisive in determining whether Neves continues his historic run.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
