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Elections in Cape Verde
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Jorge Carlos Fonseca (MpD) [since 9 September 2011; elected 2011] 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; elected 2001, re-elected 2006 and 2011] 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.
Electoral Authority: National Elections Commission
Political Situation since Independence
1975-1990 One Party State (PAIGC/PAICV)
1990-1991 Multiparty Transition
1991-        Democracy
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 1, Civil Liberties - 1, Status: Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2016
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2016
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 - Labor and Solidarity Party, UCID - Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union.
Coalitions: Democratic Alliance for Change (ADM) [Contested the 2001 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Convergence Party (PCD), Labor and Solidarity Party (PTS), and the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011
Legislative
--Single Party: 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1991, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2011
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
30 June 1975 Constituent Assembly Election (56 Seats)

Registered Voters

121,724

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

105,503

"Yes" Votes

100,835 (95.58%)

"No" Votes

    4,668   (4.42%)

7 December 1980 National People's Assembly Election (63 Seats)

Registered Voters

126,028

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  95,486 (75.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       125

Total Valid Votes

  95,361

"Yes" Votes

  88,309 (92.60%)

"No" Votes

    7,052   (7.40%)

7 December 1985 National People's Assembly Election (83 Seats)

Registered Voters

143,303

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  98,692 (68.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       402

Total Valid Votes

  98,290

"Yes" Votes

  93,252 (94.87%)

"No" Votes

    5,038   (5.13%)

Note: Aristides Pereira was elected President by the National People’s Assembly and took office on 5 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 Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (79)
Movement for Democracy (MpD) 78,454 66.41% 56
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) 39,673 33.59% 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 73.29%
Aristides Pereira (PAICV) 25,722 26.71%
 
17 December 1995 National Assembly Election [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

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% 1
Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID) 2,369 1.56% -
Social Democratic Party (PSD) 1,030 0.68% -
 
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% 2
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% 2
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%
 
6 February 2011 National Assembly Election  [Results by Electoral Circle (Constituency)]

Registered Voters

298,567

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

226,942 (76.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    2,990

Total Valid Votes

223,952

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (72)
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) 117,967 52.68% 38
Movement for Democracy (MpD) 94,674 42.27% 32
Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID) 9,842 4.39% 2
Labor and Solidarity Party (PTS) 1,040 0.46% -
Social Democratic Party (PSD) 429 0.19% -
 
August 2011 Presidential Election
First Round (7 August 2011)

Registered Voters

304,621

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

162,960 (53.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

161,105

Second Round (21 August 2011)

Registered Voters

304,621

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

182,363 (59.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    2,249

Total Valid Votes

180,114

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Jorge Carlos Fonseca (MpD) 60,887 37.79% 97,735 54.26%
Manuel Inocêncio Sousa (PAICV) 52,612 32.66% 82,379 45.74%
Aristides Lima 44,648 27.71% - -
Joaquim Monteiro 2,958 1.84%

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