Cape Verde is heading to the polls this Sunday for an election that could result in the African island nation appointing its first-ever female leader. Former Justice Minister Joana Rosa is challenging the incumbent, José Maria Neves, who is seeking a second term. Neves is the country's fifth president since the nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Six candidates are competing in the election. If no candidate secures more than half of the votes, a runoff is scheduled for Nov. 29. Rosa is running with the support of the opposition Movement for Democracy and is the first woman to run for the presidency since 1975. While women have held senior cabinet positions in Cape Verde, the country has never had a female prime minister or president.
In the parliamentary system of Cape Verde, the prime minister holds most executive authority and directs government policy. The president's role is described as largely symbolic, though the directly elected head of state possesses the power to veto legislation.
Roselma Évora, a professor of political science and gender studies at the University of Cabo Verde, noted that many voters feel distant from their leaders and desire a president who understands their daily struggles. Évora added that limited economic prospects are driving young people to look for opportunities overseas. She also stated that Neves's incumbency provides him with greater visibility, particularly among overseas voters.
Neves, who won the 2021 election with approximately 52% of the vote, has pledged to build cross-party support to raise wages, create jobs, and improve healthcare, education, and housing.
Rosa has focused her campaign on creating a balance of power. She argues the country requires a counterweight to the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which supports Neves and currently controls the government and most municipalities. The PAICV won a parliamentary majority in May, ending a decade of government led by the Movement for Democracy. A victory for Rosa would return the presidency and the government to rival political camps.
Évora observed that Rosa’s candidacy challenges traditional expectations of women's roles in a society she describes as "very patriarchal."
Rosário Luz, a writer based in Cape Verde, suggested that party loyalties are more significant than Rosa's gender. Luz stated, "We have a lot of women in politics, but we don’t have the policies for women that we should have." Luz further noted that while women in Cape Verde carry much of the financial responsibility for their households, government policies have failed to address that burden.
The Atlantic island nation, home to about half a million people, has a history of competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power. Nearly 77,000 Cape Verdeans living abroad are registered to vote, representing almost a fifth of the total electorate.
