dependence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2001); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received
80.1% of vote
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational
Assembly and appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from
members of the Peoples National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections
last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - MPD 59%,
PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats - (72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
Justia)

Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime
Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for
Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES,
chairman; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM,
OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16
FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Flag: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width),
white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light
blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the
hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower
blue bands

Economy
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Economic overview: Cape Verde's low pe