New MpD Leader Paulo Veiga Vows to End Cape Verde Deadlock
PRAIA, Cape Verde — Paulo Veiga, the newly elected president of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), has signaled a willingness to cross the political aisle, telling Lusa on Wednesday that he is open to strategic agreements with the current government to break legislative deadlocks.
Veiga’s overture comes shortly after a ten-minute congratulatory phone call from Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). “Despite our differences, we will find the best paths for Cape Verde,” Veiga assured during the interview.
Breaking the Institutional Deadlock
A top priority for the new opposition leader is resolving the paralysis surrounding appointments to external parliamentary bodies. Under Cape Verdean law, electing members to these institutions requires bipartisan consensus—a hurdle that has left key agencies in limbo.
“The country cannot have a Constitutional Court or a National Elections Commission (CNE) with two mandates of delay,” Veiga said. “We have already shown total openness to reaching agreements and moving forward as quickly as possible.”
Fiscal Discipline and Economic Concerns
While open to cooperation, Veiga remains a sharp critic of the government’s fiscal direction. As the MpD prepares to analyze the 2027 State Budget, Veiga voiced skepticism over populist spending and rising administrative costs.
“We are concerned about the idea of giving everything away for free… Money doesn’t fall from the sky,” he noted. Veiga slammed the government for what he described as contradictory bureaucracy, claiming they are “eliminating institutes and bodies while creating new ones at the same time.”
He also targeted the rising cost of living, questioning why the current administration rolled back measures designed to cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices. “How are we going to fight this? Why did the government stop applying the previous measures to minimize costs for Cape Verdeans?”
Leading from Outside Parliament
Unlike many party leaders, Veiga does not hold a seat in the National Assembly. However, he rejected the notion that this would weaken his influence. Instead, he views his position as an opportunity to restructure the MpD internally while a dedicated parliamentary group handles legislative debate.
“There are two challenges: the opposition and the country on one hand, and preparing the party for the challenges to come on the other,” he said. He emphasized that the MpD will remain a “democratic, republican party” that must now focus on strengthening ties within Africa while maintaining traditional global partnerships.
A New Chapter for the MpD
Veiga’s decisive victory in the internal elections—winning 22 of 32 districts and securing more votes than his two rivals combined—gives him a strong mandate to lead. He succeeds Ulisses Correia e Silva, who resigned after the MpD lost its decade-long grip on power in the May elections.
The current political landscape remains tight: the ruling PAICV holds 37 seats in the 72-member National Assembly, while the MpD holds 33. This narrow margin makes Veiga’s “openness to understanding” a potentially pivotal factor in Cape Verde’s governance over the coming years.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
