Republic of Cape Verde: President, 2 October 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of the Cape Verde

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Jorge Carlos FONSECA (since 9 September 2011)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2011)
• Assembly: The Republic of Cape Verde has a unicameral Assembleia Nacional (National Assembly) composed of 72 seats with members serving 5-year terms

Description of electoral system:

• The president of Cape Verde is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term, with eligibility for a second term.

Last Election:

• The last presidential election was held in two rounds on 7 August and 21 August of 2011. Jorge Carlos FONSECA was elected president with 53.4% of the vote, defeating Manuel Inocencio SOUSA in the second round of elections.

Main candidates in the election:

• Jorge Carlos FONSECA
  • Party: Movement for Democracy/Movimento para Democracia
• Joaquim MONTEIRO
  • Party: Independent
• Albertino GRACA
  • Party: Independent

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 545,993 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 347,828 (March 2016)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 281, 217 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Cape Verde a signatory to CEDAW: N/A

·         Has Cape Verde ratified CEDAW: Yes, Accession (5 December 1980)

·         Gender Quota: Yes[1]

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 15 (20.83%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 122

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Cape Verde a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Cape Verde ratified CRPD: Yes (10 October 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 81,899