Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
e . Minimum number of candidates f . Other
Comments: Legally established political parties or coalitions must submit lists of candidates between the 50th and 40th days preceding the date of the election. Coalition pacts must be registered with the Constitutional Court before the start of this registration period.
Each party list must contain a number of candidates equal to the number of seats to be filled in each constituency, and of alternate candidates in a number of not fewer than three, nor greater than the number of principal candidates. Furthermore, political parties, their coalitions or groups of independent citizens may not introduce to each electoral constituency more than one list of candidates for the same election.
No one may be candidate for more than one electoral constituency or appear on more than one list. The lists must also ensure a balanced representation of both sexes.
Source: Constitution of Cape Verde as amended in 2010, art. 106:
https://www.parlamento.cv/Constituicao/ (2026);
Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 340, 343, 347 348, 366, 374, 414, 430, 431: https://cne.cv/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Codigo-Eleitoral-Lei-n%C2%B0-92-V-99-de-8-de-fevereiro-com-as-sucessivas-alteracoes.pdf (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship f . Registration
Comments: All Cabo Verdean citizens who are registered voters above 18 years old are eligible to stand for elections to the National Assembly.
Source: Constitution of Cape Verde as amended in 2010, art. 117:
https://www.parlamento.cv/Constituicao/ (2026);
Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 8:
https://www.parlamento.cv/Constituicao/ (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
b . In presidential elections
Comments: For legislative elections, independent candidates must be included in a party list or coalition. However, political party lists may include citizens not registered with any party, provided they are declared as such on the list.
Source: Constitution of Cape Verde as amended in 2010, art. 106:
https://www.parlamento.cv/Constituicao/ (2026);
Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 340, 341, 376:
https://cne.cv/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Codigo-Eleitoral-Lei-n%C2%B0-92-V-99-de-8-de-fevereiro-com-as-sucessivas-alteracoes.pdf (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: The State provides direct financial support to political parties and candidates through election-related subsidies. For presidential and legislative elections, the State grants a subsidy of at least 750 escudos per valid vote obtained in the previous election. For municipal elections, this amount is 500 escudos per vote. In presidential elections, the State budget specifically allocates funds to co-finance the campaigns of candidates who obtained at least 10% of the valid votes. A party or candidate cannot receive more than 60% of the total global state subvention calculated for that specific election.
The law provides several forms of indirect funding. During election campaigns, parties and candidates are entitled to free airtime on all radio and television stations, regardless of whether they are public or private. Candidates and parties have free access to state-owned or municipal buildings, venues, and journalistic spaces for their campaign activities. Documents and certificates required for the electoral census, the presentation of candidacies, or election-related appeals are exempt from all taxes, fees, and stamp duties. The government establishes special (reduced) tariffs for the distribution of electoral propaganda via postal or electronic mail.
Source: Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 98, 102, 111, 117, 124 (1, 3), 128 267, 390:
https://cne.cv/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Codigo-Eleitoral-Lei-n%C2%B0-92-V-99-de-8-de-fevereiro-com-as-sucessivas-alteracoes.pdf (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Based on result of previous election
Comments: The state funding is distributed to political parties that participated in election in proportion to the valid votes obtained by each political party in each election.
Source: Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 124 (3):
https://cne.cv/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Codigo-Eleitoral-Lei-n%C2%B0-92-V-99-de-8-de-fevereiro-com-as-sucessivas-alteracoes.pdf (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law as amended by Law No 56/VII/2010, art. 124 (1):
https://cne.cv/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Codigo-Eleitoral-Lei-n%C2%B0-92-V-99-de-8-de-fevereiro-com-as-sucessivas-alteracoes.pdf (2026)
Verified: 2026/04/05
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