Former mayor claims that a single list in local elections guarantees “greater stability” to municipal power

The former mayor made these statements to the press at the end of the debate promoted by the National Elections Commission (CNE) between the first democratically elected municipal representatives in Cape Verde, which included the participation of Jacinto Santos, elected to the Praia City Council, Eugénio Veiga, elected to the Fogo City Council, and Maurício Jesus da Luz, elected by the Independent Pro Sal Group.

He considered that despite the limited existing resources, the holding of the first local elections in Cape Verde and the institution of municipalism brought an “extraordinary gain” to the country, highlighting that local government has made “a positive contribution and a positive experience” that must be worked on continuously for its consolidation in improving people's living conditions.

He defended, however, the need to rethink the current model, considering in this sense that the single list in local elections guarantees “greater stability” to municipal power.

“With this scenario we would hardly be having this problem in Praia and São Vicente, but it would give added legitimacy to the president of the Municipal Assembly with direct voting, but also with reconfirmation by peers and even opposition elements. Therefore, I understand that it must be rethought for the good of municipal power, for the good of the country, for stability”, he stated.

Asked what are the biggest challenges facing local government in Cape Verde, Eugénio Veiga pointed out the permanent adaptation of legislation so that, in fact, it does not continue to be “the poor relation” of the system.

“So that it does not continue to be an element dependent on the goodwill of the central government. And I believe that in this matter, the financial issue is fundamentally urgent. This financing from PRRA, the Tourism Fund, the Environment Fund, in the near future, not in 10, 15, 20 years, all these resources must start to be distributed in the same way as the municipal financing fund so that there is predictability, so that local power should not remain dependent on central power”, he asserted.

He therefore considered it necessary to create a different framework for the new municipal reality and in the development process of Cape Verde.

For her part, the president of the CNE, Maria do Rosário Pereira, highlighted that 32 years is a “memorable date” and that the lived experiences of the first candidates demonstrate that there has been a “great evolution, a great journey” of municipal power in Cape Verde .

He recognized, however, that there are still “immense challenges” to be consolidated in the exercise of local power, in which the elected representatives are chosen directly by the people at the polls.

“The National Elections Commission, therefore, as an electoral administration with the obligation to make an integral and transparent electoral process available to Cape Verdeans, could not be happier for this occasion that allows us to enter the electoral year of 2024, to hold another municipal elections in Cape Verde. We are immensely pleased with the sharing of experience, with the recommendations from our speakers”, he concluded.

The debate entitled “Local Elections in Cape Verde: 32 Years of History” was part of the activities commemorating the 29th anniversary of the National Elections Commission and aimed to praise the beginning of municipal elections, analyze the gains and challenges of democratic local power in Cabo Green.

On December 15, 1991, the first municipal elections were held by universal and direct suffrage in Cape Verde.

In the first elections to democratically choose local power, in addition to the MpD (in central power) and PAICV, 15 small parties and independent groups competed. All of these “independents” had negligible votes, with the exception of the Movement for the Renaissance of São Vicente (MPRSV) led by Oníssimo Silveira, which won the municipal elections in São Vicente.