Cape Verdeans Vote for First Female President Since 1975

Residents of Cape Verde, an Atlantic island nation off the coast of West Africa, voted on Sunday in a presidential election. The race offers the country its first chance to elect a woman to the highest office since independence from Portugal in 1975. Six candidates are on the ballot, and the outcome may determine if the presidency changes hands for the first time in the gender demographic.

Former Justice Minister Joana Rosa challenges incumbent José Maria Neves, who is seeking a second term. If no candidate secures more than half of the votes on Sunday, a runoff election is scheduled for Nov. 29. Rosa runs with the support of the Movement for Democracy, the opposition party that ruled the country for ten years before losing the parliamentary elections in May. Neves is backed by the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, known as PAICV, which controls the government and most municipalities after winning a parliamentary majority in May.

The country has a population of approximately 500,000 and a history of peaceful power transitions. Nearly 77,000 Cape Verdeans living abroad are registered to vote, representing almost a fifth of the total electorate. In the nation's parliamentary system, the prime minister directs policy and holds most executive authority. The president's role is largely symbolic, though the directly elected head of state retains the power to veto legislation.

Joana Rosa centers her campaign on maintaining a balance of power. She argues that the country needs a counterweight to the PAICV. Neves, who won the 2021 election with about 52% of the vote, has pledged to build cross-party support to improve housing, healthcare, and education. He also promises to create jobs and raise wages.

Roselma Évora, a professor of political science and gender studies at the University of Cabo Verde, stated that limited economic prospects have driven young people to seek opportunities abroad. She added that many voters feel distant from their leaders and want a president who understands their daily difficulties. Évora noted that Neves' incumbency has given him greater visibility, particularly among overseas voters. She said Rosa's candidacy challenges traditional expectations of women's roles in a society that remains very patriarchal.

Rosário Luz, a writer based in Cape Verde, said party loyalties mattered more than Rosa's gender in this race. "We have a lot of women in politics, but we don't have the policies for women that we should have," Luz said. She added that women carry much of the financial responsibility for their households in Cape Verde, but government policies have failed to address that burden.

The election follows a record of competitive politics in a region where such transfers of power are rare. The Movement for Democracy lost control of the government in May, ending a decade of leadership. A victory for Rosa would place the presidency and the government in rival political camps. The results of the Sunday vote are expected to clarify the direction of the nation's leadership.