Type:
Republic.
Independence:
July 5, 1975.
Constitution: 1982;
revised 1992, 1995, and 1999.
Branches: Executive--president
(head of state), prime minister
(head of government), Council
of Ministers: Legislative--National
Assembly. Judicial--Supreme
Court, lower courts
.
Administrative subdivisions:
17 administrative districts.
Political parties:
African Party for the
Independence of Cape Verde
(PAICV); Movement for Democracy
(MPD); Party for Democratic
Convergence (PCD); Party for
Democratic Renovation (PRD);
Party for Labour and Solidarity
(PTS);
Suffrage: Universal over
18.
The Cape Verde constitution
adopted in 1980 and revised in
1992, 1995, and 1999 forms the
basis of government. The
president is head of state and
is elected by popular vote for a
5-year term; the most recent
elections were held in February
2001. The prime minister is head
of government and proposes other
ministers and secretaries of
state.
The prime minister is nominated
by the National Assembly and
appointed by the president.
Members of the National Assembly
are elected by popular vote for
5-year terms; the most recent
elections were held in 2001.
Nationwide municipal elections
were held March 21, 2004. The
next presidential and
parliamentary elections are
scheduled for January 2006.
The judicial system is comprised
of a Supreme Court of Justice,
whose members are appointed by
the president, the National
Assembly, and the Board of the
Judiciary and regional courts.
Separate courts hear civil,
constitutional and criminal
cases. Appeal is to the Supreme
Court.
Cape Verde enjoys a stable
democratic system. The Movement
for Democracy (MpD) captured a
governing majority in the
National Assembly in the
country's first multi-party
general elections in 1991. The
MpD was returned to power with a
larger majority in the general
elections held in December 1995.
In 2001, the PAICV regained
power. Currently, there are four
parties with seats in the
National Assembly--PAICV 40, MPD
30, PCD 1, and PTS 1.
Principal Government Officials
President--Pedro Verona Pires
Prime Minister -- Jose Maria
Neves
President of the National
Assembly -- Aristides Lima
Minister of Foreign
Affairs--Victor Borges
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