GOVERNMENT
The Cape Verde constitution--adopted in 1980 and revised in 1992, 1995, and 1999--forms the basis of government. The president is head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. The prime minister is head of government and proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. The prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms.
Cape Verde enjoys a stable democratic system. The Movement for Democracy (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 2001, the PAICV regained power, with four parties holding seats in the National Assembly--PAICV 40, MPD 30, PCD 1, and PTS 1. Nationwide municipal elections were held March 21, 2004.
In January 2006, Cape Verde held a successful round of parliamentary elections,
followed by successful presidential elections on February 12, 2006. The National
Electoral Commission (NEC) judged both elections free and fair. The leading
parliamentary opposition party filed a court case in an attempt to overrule the
NEC on the grounds of alleged fraud; this action ultimately failed. Three
parties now hold seats in the National Assembly--PAICV 40, MPD 30, and Cape
Verdean Independent Democratic Union (UCID) 2. Municipal elections were held in
May 2008, with the Movement for Democracy party taking many of the seats within
the municipalities.
The judicial
system is comprised of a Supreme Court of Justice--whose members
are appointed by the president, the National Assembly, and the
Board of the Judiciary--and regional courts. Separate courts hear
civil, constitutional and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme
Court.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Pedro Verona Pires
Prime Minister--Jose Maria Neves
Defense Minister--Maria Cristina Lopes Almeida Fontes Lima
President of the National Assembly--Aristides Lima
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Victor Borges
Ambassador to the United States--Fatima Lima Veiga
Ambassador to the United Nations--Antonio Lima
Cape
Verde maintains an embassy
in the United States at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington
DC 20007 (tel. 202-965-6820) and one consulate at 535 Boylston
Street, Boston MA 02116 (tel. 617-353-0014).
Type: Republic.
Independence: July 5, 1975.
Constitution: 1982; revised 1992, 1995, and 1999.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative--National Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court, lower courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 17 administrative districts.
Political parties: African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV); Movement for Democracy (MPD); Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD); Party for Democratic Renovation (PRD); Party for Labor and Solidarity (PTS).
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
