2026 Cape Verdean presidential election

2026 Cape Verdean presidential election

←  2021 October 2026 2031 →

Party PAICV MpD

President before election José Maria Neves PAICV Elected President TBD

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Cape Verde in October 2026. ^[1]

Background

PAICV candidate José Maria Neves was elected president in the first round with over 51% of the vote in 2021. This was the first time the PAICV won a presidential election since 2006, when Pedro Pires was re-elected president for a second term. ^{[2] [3] [4]} The government is meanwhile is headed by MpD, with Ulisses Correa e Silva as prime minister in what is known as a cohabitation. ^[5]

Electoral system

The president was elected using the two-round system by registered voters residing in the country and abroad. ^{[6] [7]} Eligible candidates must be citizens "of Cape Verdean origin, who hold no other nationality"; over 35 years of age on the date of candidacy; and have resided in the country for three years prior to that date. The application to register as a candidate must be presented to the Constitutional Court for approval, and requires the signatures of at least 1,000 and at most 4,000 electors. ^[8]

References

1. "Cape Verdean Presidential Election, 2026".
2. "José Maria Neves eleito Presidente da República". Radio France Internationale (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
3. Rodrigues, Julio (October 18, 2021). "Opposition candidate Neves wins Cape Verde election". Reuters . Retrieved 20 October 2021.
4. Dos Santos, Nélio (18 October 2021). "José Maria Neves: "É uma grande vitória do povo de Cabo Verde"". Deutsche Welle (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
5. mozambique. "New Cape Verde president vows to work with rival prime minister". Mozambique. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
6. "Elections: Cape Verde Presidential August 2011 Round 2". IFES Election Guide. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
7. "President Fonseca eyes second term in Cape Verde vote". News24. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
8. "Cabo Verde: Presidenciais a 17 de outubro e eventual 2.ª volta no dia 31". Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). 27 July 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.