O acesso e a permanência no parlamento nacional em Cabo Verde (1991-2011)

Abstract

The research proposes the comprehension of the electoral rules for choosing the nation's parliamentarians in Cape Verde in the period 1991-2011, as well as the parliamentary ambition of the elect. The main objective of the research is to analyze the factors that determine or influence the access and the career building within the national parliament.We seek explanations in the electoral rules (particularly on the closed list system) and the partisan rules for the elaboration of the lists (statutory rules and practical action for these elaborations). Empirical results show that the electoral design implemented in the country created a scenario of polarization of parties, around two major ones: PAICV (liberating party) and MpD (democratizing party). The leaders of these two parties became the main selectors of national parliamentarians. In this context, data show that to be a viable candidate in the party list of these two bigger parties is presented as the first condition to succeed at the polls and enter the parliament. Regarding re-election and permanence of the elected, information indicates that from one election to another the national parliament is renewed around 60%. And this makes that about 64% of candidates -in five elections analyzed -have an ephemeral parliamentary career that ends with the end of the first mandate.