Africa-Press – Cape verde. The resolution received 14 votes in favor from the Cape Verdean African Independence Party (PAICV), the party that manages the council, and 7 votes against from the Movement for Democracy (MPD-opposition).
In presenting the document, the mayor of Praia (CMP), Francisco Carvalho, stated that the 2026 Budget is a “robust and responsible instrument.”
He emphasized that the priority of municipal governance is to invest heavily in social areas and improve living conditions.
The municipal budget forecasts revenues of approximately 3,678,666,371 escudos and expenses of 3,735,228,891 escudos, resulting in a deficit of 56,562,520 escudos, which will be covered by credit resources.
Among the highlights, more than 55 percent of the funds are earmarked for investments, including food security, poverty reduction, education, social housing, sanitation, and human resources training programs.
During the session, MP Ismael Teixeira, of the MpD, justified the opposition’s vote against, considering the budget and activity plan “incomplete documents,” lacking detailed programs, goals, or indicators, and with financial forecasts lacking documentary evidence.
According to Teixeira, the Activity Plan “seems like just a set of sheets” repeating the previous budget.
He criticized the management of municipal revenues, highlighting accumulated debts, limitations on investment execution, and debt exceeding 1.9 million escudos.
On the other hand, the leader of the PAICV parliamentary group, Aquiles Barbosa, defended the vote in favor, describing the budget as “robust and inclusive.”
He emphasized that the Activity Plan is aligned with the city’s governance strategies and priorities.
Barbosa also highlighted that, even given the global macroeconomic scenario, the budget maintains financial balance, prioritizes strategic investments, and ensures the implementation of essential public policies.
The approved document establishes clear rules for budget execution, including spending containment standards, quarterly revenue collection monitoring, debt limits of 423 million escudos, and the regularization of precarious contracts in the municipal administration.
Procedures were also defined for the mobilization of own revenues, capital transfers, the sale of municipal land, and the implementation of temporary and exceptional measures aimed at poverty alleviation.
The resolution is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026.
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