Editing Politics of Cape Verde (section)

==Political conditions==
Following independence in 1975, the [[African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde]] (PAIGC) established a one-party political system. This became the [[African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde]] (PAICV) in 1980, as Cape Verde sought to distance itself from [[Guinea-Bissau]], following unrest in that country.

In 1991, following growing pressure for a more pluralistic society, multi-party elections [[1991 Cape Verdean parliamentary election|were held for the first time]]. The opposition party, the [[Movement for Democracy (Cape Verde)|Movement for Democracy]] (''Movimento para a Democracia'', MpD), won the legislative elections, and formed the government. The MpD candidate also defeated the PAICV candidate in the presidential elections. In the 1996 elections, the MpD increased their majority, but in the 2001 the PAICV returned to power, winning both the Legislative and the Presidential elections.

Generally, Cape Verde enjoys a stable democratic system. The elections have been considered free and fair, there is a free press, and the rule of law is respected by the State. In acknowledgment of this, [[Freedom House]] granted Cape Verde two first places in its annual [[Freedom in the World]] report, a perfect score. It is the only African country to receive this score.<ref name="Freedom House country and territory ratings 1973-2020">{{cite web |last1=House |first1=Freedom |title=Freedom in the World |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world |website=Freedom House |access-date=22 July 2020 |location=Country and Territory Ratings and Statuses, 1973-2020 |language=en}}</ref> {{Democracy Index rating|Cape Verde|flawed democracy|2023}}

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and as such proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. The Prime Minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the President.<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Cabo Verde|date=November 10, 2021}}</ref> The President is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the most recent elections were held in 2021.

Also in the legislative branch, the [[National Assembly of Cape Verde|National Assembly]] (''Assembleia Nacional'') has 72 members, elected for a five-year term by [[proportional representation]].

Movement for Democracy (MpD) ousted the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) for the first time in 15 years in the [[2016 Cape Verdean parliamentary election|2016 parliamentary election]]. The leader of MpD, [[Ulisses Correia e Silva]] has been prime minister since 2016. [[Jorge Carlos Fonseca|Jorge Carlos Almeida Fonseca]] was [[2011 Cape Verdean presidential election|elected]] president in August 2011 and [[2016 Cape Verdean presidential election|re-elected]] in October 2016. He is also supported by MpD.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13148486|title = Cape Verde country profile|work = BBC News|date = 5 December 2018}}</ref>

In April 2021, the ruling centre-right Movement for Democracy (MpD) of Prime Minister [[Ulisses Correia e Silva]], won the parliamentary [[2021 Cape Verdean parliamentary election|election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/04/19/cape-verde-ruling-party-retains-power-after-winning-legislative-vote/|title = Cape Verde ruling party retains power after winning legislative vote|date = 19 April 2021}}</ref> In October 2021, opposition candidate and former prime minister, [[José Maria Neves]] of PAICV, won Cape Verde's presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/opposition-candidate-neves-wins-cape-verde-election-2021-10-18/|title=Opposition candidate Neves wins Cape Verde election|first=Julio|last=Rodrigues|newspaper=Reuters |date=October 18, 2021|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref> On 9 November 2021, José Maria Neves was sworn in as the new President of Cape Verde.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/09/jose-maria-neves-sworn-in-as-new-cape-verde-president/|title=Jose Maria Neves sworn in as new Cape Verde president|date=September 11, 2021|website=Africanews}}</ref>