Cabo Verde - May 2026
Opposition wins parliamentary elections, ending decade of MPD rule
On 17 May, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Cape Verde’s main opposition party, won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections. The party secured 37 of the 72 seats (51.0 per cent) in the National Assembly and 48.0 per cent of the popular vote, ending ten years of government led by Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva and the Movement for Democracy (MPD). PAICV leader Francisco Carvalho was sworn in as prime minister on 19 June following the election result. International observers and analysts highlighted the orderly conduct of the vote and the acceptance of results by political actors. The voter turnout reached 46.5 per cent. There are also 34 seats occupied by women, representing 47.2 per cent of parliament, an increase of 1.2 per cent compared to 2025.
Sources: Africa News; Reuters; Plataforma; IPU; Election Guide
