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Cape Verde’s Presidential election had to be decided by means of a runoff vote, after no candidate emerged with an absolute majority in the first round. As a result, opposition candidate, Jorge Carlos Fonseca of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), was pitted against the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde’s (PAICV’s) Manuel Inocêncio Sousa.
There were no reported incidents of irregularity or violence as the island’s fifth democratic presidential election since independence went off unhindered.
The first round saw a turnout of 161 926 voters, translating into 53.1% of those who registered. The runoff, however, garnered a greater turnout with 182 597 (59.9%) voters. The electoral process has been lauded as being an example of multiparty democratic elections, as all candidates and parties involved respected and acknowledged the process as being free and fair.
Brief History
After gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) established a single-party State up until 1990. In the immediate post-independence phase, there was a strong push from the PAIGC to join the mainland African country of Guinea-Bissau. These unity hopes, however, were abandoned in 1980 following a coup in Guinea-Bissau that lead to a change of government, resulting in strained relations between that country and Cape Verde.
Following the fallout between the two countries, the PAIGC formed the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), and ruled in much the same manner up until emergency general elections in 1991.
Responding to domestic pressure to form a multiparty democracy, the PAICV called an emergency congress to discuss the transition from single-party rule to representative democracy. As a result, multiparty elections were held in February 1991. Opposition parties banded together to form the Movement for Democracy (MPD) to contest the election.
In the 1991 election, the MPD was able to win a majority of parliamentary seats from the PAICV, and MPD candidate António Mascarenhas Monteiro defeated the PAICV candidate with 73.5% of the vote.
Monteiro retained the presidency after elections in 1996. The 2001 elections, however, saw power returning to the PAICV with their candidate Pedro Pires defeating the MPD’s candidate Carlos Veiga by a mere 13 votes.
As prescribed by the State’s constitution, Pires served his two-term limit, thus, opening the door for Fonseca to take over. The recent election saw power change hands yet again, with the MPD candidate emerging victorious.
Conclusion
In a refreshing departure from political trends on the African continent, the multiparty system has been a shining success story for democracy. Since 1991, when democratic reforms were adopted in the Constitution, the political parties have adhered to the system and gracefully accepted defeat with power changing hands several times.
Despite Cape Verde’s political stability, the island has a number of economic challenges. A lack of resources severely impedes the ability to embark on development projects to uplift the local communities. The country’s erratic rainfall patterns also mean that investment in commercial agriculture is risky.
These challenges have contributed to a massive emigration problem, with more Cape Verdeans residing in other countries as opposed to their motherland. The newly elected President, Fonseca, has promised to improve the country by implementing economic measures that will attract foreign investment.
Main Sources
African Elections Database. Elections in Cape Verde (August 23, 2011).
MENAFN. Opposition leader wins Presidential election (August 23, 2011).
Polity. Cape Verde opposition leader wins election runoff (August 22, 2011).
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