Cape Verde Media Coverage of Elections Deemed Positive, Calls for Private Media Support

Arminda Barros, president of the Regulatory Authority for Social Communication (ARC), has described the media coverage of the recent legislative elections held on May 17th as generally positive. Following the submission of the ARC's annual reports to the National Assembly president, Janira Hopffer Almada, Barros stated that media outlets largely adhered to the principle of equal treatment for all candidacies. However, she noted that private media organizations face resource limitations that hinder their ability to provide more extensive coverage, particularly beyond the capital city. Barros suggested that financial support could enable private media to increase their presence and offer better reporting on all candidates. She highlighted that public media outlets maintained a consistent presence throughout the pre-campaign and campaign periods with dedicated programs and daily news integration of candidate information. Private media, within their capacity, covered the electoral process by organizing debates and ensuring coverage during the 15-day campaign period. The ARC's monitoring did not identify any situations that compromised the balance of journalistic coverage, and Barros reiterated that any complaints regarding the electoral process should be directed to the National Elections Commission (CNE). Regarding the ARC's Regulatory Council, whose mandate expired in 2021, Barros clarified that the current members remain in their roles legally until their successors are appointed, awaiting the National Assembly to secure the necessary qualified majority for renewal.