afrol News, 30 June - Prime Minister José Maria Neves yesterday was re-elected president of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). He was the only candidate to the post.

The PAICV held power in Cape Verde from independence (1975) to 1991, and again, under Mr Neves' leadership, from February 2001 until today. Its parliamentary majority will last till the 2006 legislative elections, and Mr Neves won a strong position in the party due to his 2001 election victory and his ability to unite a diverging party.

Thus, at the tenth congress of the party, the Prime Minister and party leader emerged as the only candidate. Also PAICV Vice-President Júlio Correia managed to be re-elected during the congress.

This means that the same political leadership will lead the party into the local elections to be organised next year. The PAICV is expected to meet massive resistance locally from the opposition Movement for Democracy Party (MPD).

The PAICV congress also has somewhat changed the party's statutes by introducing a greater element of internal democracy in the nomination and decision-making processes. Local party groups will be at greater liberty to choose their candidates for the 2004 local polls.

The Cape Verdean ruling party has Marxist roots, especially from its dictatorial years shortly after independence. The PAICV however voluntarily went democratic and introduced the multiparty system in 1991 and turned into a social democratic party.

After ten years in opposition and under the new leadership of Mr Neves, the PAICV in practical terms has bowed fully into liberal market economy principles. Although the party programme remains social democratic, the ruling party now is a driving force behind privatisation and liberal trade policies in Cape Verde.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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