20110206
reuters

PRAIA (Reuters) - Voters in Cape Verde cast their ballots in a parliamentary election on Sunday that is likely to be dominated by the two parties that have exchanged power over the last two decades in the island nation.

The incumbent PAICV party could face a stiff challenge from the MPD opposition party, but voters are optimistic the polls will go smoothly in a nation that is poor but has been spared the political turbulence of many other West African countries.

"It was the first time that I have ever voted and I am happy," said Antonio Carlos Santos Silva, a 20-year-old student, after casting his ballot in Praia, the capital.

"Democracy is well-established and working in Cape Verde," he said.

Just under 300,000 people are eligible to vote for members of the 72-seat parliament. Whichever party secures a majority will be asked to form the country's next government.

There are no opinion polls, but observers expect voting to be close.

Provisional results are expected later on Sunday but the official figures will not be confirmed until Monday.

The PAICV and the MPD have dominated politics since independence from Portugal in 1975. Both have run the country for a 10 year stint each since multi-party democracy was introduced in 1991.