PAICV Wins Cape Verde Parliamentary Election as Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva Concedes Defeat

The African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), led by Francisco Carvalho, won the parliamentary election held in Cape Verde on 17/05/2026, defeating the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD). The result ended the MpD’s period in government and returned the PAICV to national leadership following a closely watched electoral campaign focused on economic conditions, employment, and social development. After preliminary and official vote counts confirmed the opposition victory, incumbent Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva publicly conceded defeat and announced that he would step down as leader of the MpD. His concession speech acknowledged the voters’ decision and called for political stability during the transition of power. The election represented a major political shift in the island nation, which has long been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable multi-party democracies. Francisco Carvalho, who led the PAICV campaign, positioned the party around promises to address rising living costs, economic inequality, youth employment, and public services. The campaign period also included debate over tourism dependency, housing challenges, and long-term economic diversification in Cape Verde, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, remittances, and international trade. The parliamentary election was conducted across Cape Verde’s archipelago with participation from domestic election authorities and international observers. Voting proceeded peacefully, continuing the country’s reputation for orderly democratic elections since the introduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990s. The peaceful transfer of political authority was welcomed by regional and international partners monitoring governance developments in West Africa. The defeat marked a significant moment for the MpD government, which had remained in power under Ulisses Correia e Silva since 2016. His decision to resign from party leadership following the election reflected political accountability traditions commonly observed in Cape Verdean politics after major electoral losses. Why This Moment Matters : The 2026 parliamentary election resulted in a transfer of power between Cape Verde’s two main political parties and reinforced the country’s long-standing democratic institutions. The peaceful concession by Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva and the orderly electoral process further strengthened Cape Verde’s reputation for political stability within the region.