PAICV: Majority of the Sal Regional Political Commission contests national decision on lead candidate.

The unease arises after the National Political Commission (CPN) approved a candidate for the legislative elections who differed from the name indicated by the local structure of Sal.

This discontent was expressed at a press conference, with the group, through Josiano Nereu, describing the decision as a disrespect for the party's statutes and internal democracy.

According to the signatories of the declaration, signed by 11 representatives from various party bodies on the island, the CPR met on March 4th and unanimously decided to propose the name of Démis Lobo Almeida for the position.

CPR members state that, despite the minutes of the meeting having been sent to the national leadership in a timely manner, the name of Démis Lobo Almeida “was not even considered for discussion” at the National Political Commission meeting.

“We were faced with the approval of a different name to head the list, without the formal proposal for the regional structure having been analyzed or debated,” said Josiano Nereu.

Although they acknowledge that the final decision rests with the national structure, local leaders in Sal emphasize that the statutory power to propose decisions cannot be "ignored or undermined."

Given the situation, the Regional Political Commission argues that regional structures exist to ensure that decisions reflect the will of the members and the political reality of each constituency.

However, the signatories clarify that the public denouncement is not intended to create divisions, but rather to "reaffirm the importance of respecting the Statutes, internal democracy, and the autonomy of regional structures."

The statement has the support of key PAICV figures in Sal, including the vice-president of the CPR, Ana Carvalho, the first secretaries of the Espargos and Santa Maria sectors, the leader of the municipal group, Estregilda Rocha Oliveira, and representatives of the Youth (JPAI) and Women's (FNM-PAICV) structures on the island.

The group concluded by appealing for the preservation of the "democratic culture" that, they claim, has underpinned the party's history.

However, during the presentation of the national list leaders for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for May, when questioned about the selection process, the president of the PAICV, Francisco Carvalho, stated that the decisions were made in a "calm, serene and dialogical" manner, involving different actors within the party and also contributions from civil society through a consultation process.

Regarding the possibility of other names, such as Démis Almeida for the Sal constituency, he stressed that the party has several qualified members, but that in each constituency, only one can be chosen to lead the list.

The National Political Commission of the PAICV has chosen Carlos Andrade, the current president of the Regional Political Commission of the island, as the head of the list for the legislative elections on May 17th on the island of Sal.

Inforpress