The new government of Cabo Verde, formed on June 19, has completed nearly 100 days in office and has left a strong impression of being a disruptive force in the country's politics. The government has taken a populist approach, prioritizing the affirmation of the prime minister's authority and accumulating personally the finance portfolio. This move distances the current government from the previous one, which seemed to have two centers of power.
The composition of the government, which features personalities without significant prominence in the previous political landscape, but close to the prime minister, signals a rupture with established practices. This change is seen as a result of the struggle for leadership within the PAICV party, which has led to a capture of the party by populist forces. These new forces have taken key positions in the government, replacing the previous elite.
The government's approach to institutions and its reluctance to follow democratic procedures have raised concerns. The process of ascending to power, which culminated in the conquest of the party leadership and the legislative victory, has been marked by challenges to established norms. The government has tested the solidity of the democratic system with positions that challenge the status quo on issues such as inelegibility, suspension, and renunciation of mandate.
The decision to delegate the coordination and orientation of the Republic's Information System (SIR) to the Minister of Internal Administration has sparked controversy. This move is seen as a breach of the decree-law 55/2009, which stipulates that the SIR functions under the direct and exclusive dependence of the Prime Minister. The SIR serves the republic, not the government's options, and its control is subject to parliamentary and judicial oversight.
The concentration of power in the prime minister's hands and the attempts to reduce the space for action of the parliament and the president of the republic have raised concerns about the limits of the government's actions. The government's approach has sparked tensions between the organs of sovereignty, and there have been attempts to force decisions from the president of the republic.
The erosion of the justice system and the attempts to question the independence of the courts have also raised concerns. The government's actions have sparked reactions from various sectors of society, and there are concerns about the impact on the democratic system. The daily reading of the Official Bulletin, which publicizes appointments and dismissals, has created an impression of a broad intervention in the public administration.
The government's intentions to intervene in the education sector, including the potential dismissal of administrators and the extinction of the regulatory agency for higher education (ARES), have raised concerns about the autonomy of independent administrative authorities. This has sparked questions about the ability of the public administration to impose limits on the government's actions through an impartial and neutral stance.
Key points
- The new government's populist approach has raised concerns about its impact on Cabo Verde's democratic system and institutions.
- The concentration of power in the prime minister's hands has sparked tensions with other branches of government and institutions.
- The government's actions have raised concerns about the erosion of the justice system and the independence of the courts.
