Africa-Press – Cape verde. Thirty-two years after the date that was referred to as the Day of Freedom and Democracy, the President of the Republic considered today, January 13th, that, despite many gains, our democracy “does not go well” when there are tugs of war. Verdeans living in extreme poverty, an acute food crisis and high youth unemployment.
“Ours is not going well, when around 73,000 Cape Verdeans live in extreme poverty and approximately 46,000 in a situation of acute food crisis; youth unemployment is high, inflation mainly affects the most needy families and inequality increases”, warned the Head of State, in his speech, at the National Assembly’s Solemn Commemorative Session.
José Maria Neves therefore spoke of the urgency of a comprehensive reform of the State and Public Administration, adapting its dimensions to the real needs of the country, reducing costs, boosting effectiveness and efficiency gains, with more flexibility and responding with more sophistication to the enormous challenges of the current socioeconomic context.
“ Well-conceived and executed, it will be able to reduce the State’s running costs, freeing up means to fight poverty and inequalities, effectively contributing to a wide range of Cape Verdeans from the most disadvantaged classes to have access to to more resources in order to have a more dignified life”, he considered.
Gains and political stability
Despite this outlined picture, the PR also recognized gains , “mainly due to political stability, without upheavals and always with respect for the choices made at the polls”.
José Maria Neves recalled that the democracy that exists in Cape Verde is generally considered a reference by the international community, but drew attention to the constant challenges inherent to it and to the dangerous ones that could cause cracks in the regime.
“We have to be aware of the challenges we still face, the apparent regression in some areas, mainly the difficulty in reaching consensus, and the efforts necessary for its permanent improvement and its better credibility”, he pointed out, urging the cultivation of respect for democratic legality and republican ethics.
Otherwise, he underlined, it would be slipping towards the trivialization of institutions, towards their wear and tear, giving way to populism, the advent of illiberal, authoritarian and extremist forces, bringing serious problems to the democratic life of the country.
“The slight and disrespectful way in which certain essential political issues are discussed can lead to fatigue and discredit in relation to politics, politicians and institutions, which only devalues Democracy”, warned the Head of State.
Strengthen institutions
José Maria Neves reiterated, on the other hand, the need for a better understanding and cooperation between the sovereign bodies and a proper reading of certain concepts, namely the interdependence and separation of powers, showing himself available for the “search for better understandings ”.
“Democracy is a system of institutions. We have to reinforce them and improve their performance through availability for dialogue and the incessant search for consensus”, he exhorted.
Genuine Democrats
Democracy can only be built with genuine democrats, the Head of State also underlined, recommending the dissipation of a climate of tension, “sometimes present”, and contributing to dialogue, tolerance, cooperation and trust.
“Democracy is built with our disagreements and disagreements, but it also requires peaceful coexistence among all”, he defended.
In addition to dialogue, understandings and consensus, Neves also pointed to a free, strong and independent media as one of the bases for the health of democracy.
press freedom
“The enemies of Democracy make life difficult for a free press in order to also weaken the resistance of that same Democracy. We have to avoid both censorship and self-censorship and work for Cape Verde to rise again in the press freedom rankings”, she encouraged.
Democracy, he recalled, is not limited to holding the election, however punctually it may be and its results are always respected.
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