ⓒ VOA Português
The Partido Africano para a Independência de Cabo Verde (PAICV), currently the national opposition party, achieved a resounding victory in Cabo Verde’s municipal elections on December 1st. Securing 15 out of 22 mayoral seats, the PAICV significantly surpassed the ruling Movimento para a Democracia (MpD) which retained only seven of its previously held 14 seats. This outcome represents a substantial shift in political power at the local level.
The PAICV’s success extended beyond the mayoral races. They also elected 80 councilors nationwide, compared to the MpD’s 40. Even in São Vicente, the second-largest electoral district, where the MpD’s Augusto Neves won the mayoral race with 41.3% of the vote, the PAICV secured a respectable 26.4% and two council seats.
The election results are considered a major setback for the national government led by Ulisses Correia e Silva, whose ministers actively participated in the campaigns. The PAICV’s triumph was particularly significant in key municipalities like Porto Novo, Maio, and Órgãos, which they won for the first time. Santa Catarina de Santiago also returned to PAICV control.
Even in Praia, the capital, where the MpD fielded the prominent former Minister Abrão Vicente, the incumbent mayor, Francisco Carvalho of the PAICV, secured a comfortable win with 61.1% of the vote.
Political analysts see the outcome as a strong indicator for the upcoming legislative elections in 2025, although it does not guarantee a future victory for the PAICV. Both the PAICV and MpD will hold internal elections to select their leaders for the 2027 legislative race. The impact of these municipal results on the 2025 legislative elections remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the PAICV has gained considerable momentum.
