Politics of Cape Verde

The constitution first approved in 1980 and substantially revised in 1992 forms the basis of government organization. It declares that the government is the "organ that defines, leads, and executes the general internal and external policy of the country" and is responsible to the National Assembly. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and as such proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms; the most recent elections were held in 1995. The Prime Minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the President. The President is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term; the most recent elections were held in 2000. The judicial system is comprised of a Supreme Court of Justice--whose members are appointed by the President, the National Assembly, and the Superior Board of the Magistrature--and regional courts. Separate courts hear civil and criminal cases. Appeal to the Supreme Court is possible.

Principal Government Officials

• President: Pedro Pires (Since March 2001)
• Prime Minister: Jose Neves (Since February 2001)
• President of the National Assinsembly: António Espirito Santo Fonseca (as of 1996)
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Fatima Vega (since 2002)
• Minister of National Defense: Jose Neves (as of 2001)
• Ambassador to the United States: Vacant??
• Ambassador to the United Nations: José Luís Monteiro (as of 1996)

Cape Verde maintains an embassy in the United States at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20007 (tel. 202-965-6820) and a consulate in Boston (tel. 617-353-0014).

Political conditions

Cape Verde enjoys a stable democratic system. The Movement for Democracy Party (MPD) captured a governing majority in the National Assembly in the country's first multi-party general elections in 1991. The MPD was returned to power with a larger majority in the general elections held in December 1995. In those elections, there were three parties with seats in the National Assembly--MPD 50, PAICV 21, and PCD 1. There was another multiparty election in 2000. More political information (mostly as of late 1990s, may not be updated)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde

Data code: CV

Government type: republic

Capital: Praia

Administrative divisions:

Cape Verde is divided into 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho): Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filip, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Legal system: derived from the legal system of Portugal

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
Previous chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) (until March 2001) Current chief of state: President Pedro Pires (since March 2001)
Previous head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) (until February 2001) Current head of government: Prime minister Jose Neves, since February 2001..
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held 18 February 1996 (last held 2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results in 1996:: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro reelected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: held 17 December 1995 (lastheld NA December 2000)
election results in 199: percent of vote by party - MPD5: 61.3%, PAICV 29.8%, PCD 6.7%, other 2.2%; seats by party - MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV (Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman); Movement for Democracy or MPD (Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and president); Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD (Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president); Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS (Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16
FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands

See also : Cape Verde