The 1985 parliamentry election for an enlarged 83-seat National People's Assembly took place on 7 December 1985. For the first time a few independent, PAICV-endorsed candidates won seats in the legislature.
In 1990, Cape Verde became one of the first African countries to abandon one-party rule and embrace multipartydemocracy.
National Assembly (1991–2016)
The first multiparty National Assembly elections took place on 13 January 1991. The ruling PAICV was soundly defeated by the opposition Movement for Democracy (MPD), which won 56 out of 79 seats compared to the PAICV's 23. The elections were considered transparent, free, and fair.
In the next election, held on 17 December 1995, the number of Assembly seats was reduced from 79 to 72. The MPD won 50 seats and the PAICV won 21. The Democratic Convergence Party (PCD) won the remaining seat.
PAICV - 49.50% of the vote and 40 seats MPD - 40.55% of the vote and 30 seats ADM - 6.12% of the vote and 2 seats PRD - 3.38% of the vote and no seats PSD - 0.45% of the vote and no seats
Eight women won seats in the National Assembly.
National Assembly (2016–present)
Following the parliamentary election in March 2016, the Movement for Democracy party won a majority of the seats in the election. This was the first time the ruling party PAICV have lost their majority in the parliament. Following the election Ulisses Correia e Silva became Prime Minister and Jorge Pedro Maurício dos Santos was elected President of the National Assembly.[2] Following this defeat, the former ruling party the PAICV lost morale and lost in the local and presidential elections in the same year.[3][4]