Even as the MpD backtracks and has decided not to recognize the results of the January 22 legislative elections, which it lost to the governing PAICV party, observers from the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) have congratulated “the Cape Verdean people on their spirit of maturity and civic-mindedness in fulfilling their right to vote in the peaceful atmosphere that characterized the elections.”

Nineteen Cape Verdean observers and seven international observers from Nigéria, the Republico f Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Benin accompanied Sunday’s legislative elections in Cape Verde as representatives of the WACSOF. The non-governmental organization, financed by US-based entities, issued a communiqué in which it congratulates Cape Verdeans “on their spirit of maturity and civic-mindedness in fulfilling their right to vote in the peaceful atmosphere that characterized the elections.”

The WACSOF was particularly impressed by a series of measures adopted by Cape Verdean authorities through the National Elections Commission (CNE) and the Electoral Code in order to guarantee that the elections would be “a democratic act favorable to the expression of the popular will.”

Although the voting process “took place, globally, without incidents,” the observers did point out “several insufficiencies,” which they suggested be corrected by Cape Verdean authorities. Among these are the absence of ink “aimed at preventing any attempts at multiple voting,” difficulties encountered in finding some of the polling stations, and difficulties experienced by polling station staff in “the interpretation of the legal measure extending the validity of identification documents,” as well as the delay “in the opening of some polling stations due to the late installation of election materials.”

These constraints aside, the WACSOF expressed its satisfaction with the use of “transparent ballot boxes” in Cape Verde’s elections, the choice of public buildings for the localization of polling stations, “respect for citizens’ right to freely exercise their right to vote,” and “the placement of women as managers of polling stations.”

The WACSOF does, however, suggest reviewing the electoral code to permit “the serene observation of future elections in Cape Verde” by international entities. The current Electoral Code, approved in 1999 and revised in 2000, does not allow international observers to enter and remain in Cape Verdean polling stations.

Source a semana