AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
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Elections in Cape Verde
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Pedro Pires (PAICV) [since 22 March 2001; elected 2001, re-elected 2006] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: José Maria Neves (PAICV) [since 1 February 2001] The Prime Minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral] (72 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1975-1990 One Party State (PAIGC/PAICV)
1990-1991 Multiparty Transition
1991-        Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 1, Civil Liberties - 1, Status: Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: February 2011
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: January 2011
Political Parties: MpD - Movement for Democracy (center-right/centrist), PAICV - African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (far-left, socialist), PAIGC - African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, PCD - Democratic Convergence Party (centrist), PRD - Democratic Renewal Party, PSD - Social Democratic Party, PTS - Party of Labor and Solidarity, UCID - Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union.
Coalitions: Democratic Alliance for Change (ADM) [Contested 2001 election] Member parties include the Democratic Convergence Party (PCD), Party of Labor and Solidarity (PTS), and the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006
Legislative
--Single Party: 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1991, 1995, 2001, 2006
Local: 2004
 
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 1975-1981; African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) 1981-1990

June 1975 National People’s Assembly Election

07 December 1980 National People’s Assembly Election (60 Seats)

07 December 1985 National People’s Assembly Election (83 Seats)

Note: Aristides Pereira was elected President by the National People’s Assembly and took office on 05 July 1975. He was re-elected by the National People’s Assembly on 12 February 1981 and again on 13 January 1986.
 
13 January 1991 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 166,818

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 125,564 (75.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    7,437 

Total Valid Votes

 118,127

Party

Number of Seats (79)

Movement for Democracy (MpD)

56

African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV)

23

 
17 February 1991 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 159,667

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   98,039 (61.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,735

Total Valid Votes

   96,304

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

António Mascarenhas Monteiro (MpD)

70,582

73.3%

Aristides Pereira (PAICV)

25,722

26.7%
 
17 December 1995 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 207,648 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 158,901 (76.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    6,779 

Total Valid Votes

 152,122 

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (72)

Movement for Democracy (MpD)

93,249

61.30%

50

African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV)

45,263

29.75%

21

Democratic Convergence Party (PCD)

10,211

6.71%

01

Others

3,399

2.23%

-

 
18 February 1996 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 Not Available (approx. 55%)

Candidate

% of Votes

António Mascarenhas Monteiro*

80.1%

*The Movement for Democracy (MpD) and the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) supported Monteiro. No other candidate stood in the election.
 
14 January 2001 National Assembly Election [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

 260,126 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 141,836 (54.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,751 

Total Valid Votes

 137,085 

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (72)

African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV)

67,860

49.50%

40

Movement for Democracy (MpD)

55,586

40.55%

30

Democratic Alliance for Change [ADM]

8,389

6.12%

02

Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)

4,630

3.38%

-

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

620

0.45%

-

 
February 2001 Presidential Election
First Round (11 February 2001) [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

 260,221

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 134,495 (51.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,999

Total Valid Votes

 132,496
Second Round (25 February 2001) [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

 260,209

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 153,406 (59.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,764

Total Valid Votes

 151,642

Candidate (Party)

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Pedro Pires (PAICV)

61,646

46.52%

75,827

50.00%

Carlos Veiga (MpD)

60,719

45.83%

75,815

50.00%

Jorge Carlos Fonseca

5,142

3.88%

-

-

David Hopper Almada

4,989

3.77%

-

-

 
22 January 2006 National Assembly Election [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

 322,735

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 174,858 (54.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,690

Total Valid Votes

 170,168

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (72)

African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV)

88,965

52.28%

41

Movement for Democracy (MpD)

74,909

44.02%

29

Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID)

4,495

2.64%

02

Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)

1,097

0.64%

-

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

702

0.41%

-

 
12 February 2006 Presidential Election [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

 323,554 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 171,819 (53.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,995 

Total Valid Votes

 169,824 

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Pedro Pires (PAICV)

86,583

50.98%

Carlos Veiga (MpD)

83,241

49.02%