On the Last Week of January 2010 the Political Leader of the PNP Announced That the Campaign

Electoral Notes on the Island Council Election 27 August 2010

Author: Dr. Miguel P. Goede Affiliation: Social Economic Department of the University of the Netherlands Antilles Address: Jan Noorduynweg 111, Curaçao, NA Telephone number: (5999) 561-6853 Fax number: (5999) 767-7888 Email: [email protected]

Abstract On the 27 August 2010 Curaçao went to the polls to vote for the last island Council that would become the first Staten (Parliament) of Curaçao after the constitutional changes of 10 October 2010. They went to the polls because the Constitution did not gain a two third majority in the Island Council.

Key words Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, Constitutional reform, Referendum, Right to self- determination, Elections.

1 Introduction On the last week of January 2010 the political leader of the PNP Mr. Davelaar announced that the campaign for the next Island Council elections had already started. In the meanwhile on 19 February 2010 Mr. Atacho reported that he had formed a government for the Netherlands Antilles. And on the same day the government coalition in the Netherlands felL. This created uncertainty for the constitutional reforms of the Kingdom that had to go into effect on 10-10-10, because the opposition in the Netherlands had always been very critical regarding the constitutional reforms. And the opposition was expected to win the next parliamentary elections in the Netherlands.

The political parties After a leadership a crisis in the DP, Mr. Norberto Rebeiro is announced as the new political leader of the DP and as the successor of Mr. George. Earlier the MAN proposed as their new number one: Mrs. Eunice Eisden. Mr. Cooper remainen the political leader of the party. On 25 of February 2010 Mr. Nelson Pierre of the NPA also announces his retirement from politics.

On 2 March 2010 it looked like the elections in Curaçao were uncertain. It all depended on whether Dutch demissionairy parliament1 would continue with the legislation on constitutional changes of the Kingdom. On 4 March 2010 a big strike of the refinery came to an end. It is unclear what happened. There is a general feeling of uncertainty on the island. On 5 March 2010 the Electoral Council announces that it will propose the Island Council to hold the election on the 11 July 2010.

On 9 March 2010 the Dutch parliament approve the legislation of the BES islands and gives hope to Curaçao and the other islands that the constitutional changes would continue.

9 March 2010 Mr. Godett tells the people of Banda’bou that he will not execute project anymore because they did not vote for him in the last Elections.

11 March 2010 the Dutch Parliament announces that they will handle the legislation regarding the constitutional changes in a timely manner for the reforms to stay on track. The islands were relieved and the end of a process that has been going on for years was coming to an end. On Curaçao it is also announced that Mrs. de Lannooy, the former leader of the PNP will remain the Minister of Finance but for the PAR. On 15 March 2010 it becomes apparent that the Lista di Kambio (LdK, a combination of MAN, FK and NPA) will not continue, as MAN demands integration of FK and NPA into the MAN. There is also a lot of internal debate on the postulation of Mrs. de Lannooy, the former leader of the PNP, as minister of Finance for the PAR. A new party PAIS is announced. It is the party of Mr. Alex Rosaria and Mr. Mike Franco. During that weekend the PAR had a big fundraiser.

1 A demissionary parliament continues support the current government after a cabinet has ended. This can either be after completion of the full term, between general elections (when the new house of representatives is installed) and the formation of a new cabinet, or otherwise.

2 On 16 March 2010 Mr. Atacho presents his final report to the Governor and states that de Jongh-Elhage II is a fact.

The elections are a fact 18 March 2010 AD publishes that the Lieutenant-Governor states that the elections are not a fact, that the elections will not take place before the school vacation. In the afternoon the newspaper Amigoe states that the elections are a sure thing. During the weekend Mr. Atacho states that he expects the election to be held in August 2010. There was uncertainty of elections being necessary for the new status. In the end it’s the fact that the constitution was not accepted by a 2/3 majority that forces elections to be held.

On 19 March 2010 it is clear that the alliance of LdK is a thing of the past. The three parties (MAN, FK, NPA) are split. NPA is in the process of electing a new political leader. And also on this day it is published by the media that the tasks of the Central Government have been decentralized massively to the government to Curaçao, as a first step towards the abolition of the Netherlands Antilles and the creation of the countries Curaçao and St. Maarten. This also means that most of the civil servants are functioning under the political responsibility of the island governments.

On 25 March 2010 the media reports that Parliament approved legislation to make the elections possible. The Prime-Minister states that these elections will be in August 2010.

On 26 March 2010 the second cabinet de Jongh Elhage is sworn in as the last cabinet of the Netherlands Antilles till October 2010.

29 March 2010 Mr. Carlos Monk presents himself as the new leader of NPA, as Mr. Nelson Pierre retires from active politics. He is one of the many ‘new’ faces.

3 On Tuesday 30 March 2010 a group on Facebook organized an action against the utility company Aqualectra to protest against the recent black and brown power outs on the island. There is also a constant debate on the importing of 150 foreign employees by the new to be opened hotel Hyatt. And a delegation of the Parliament is preparing to travel to the Dutch Parliament to witness crucial proceedings debates in Dutch Parliament on the constitutional reforms. Mr. Wiels of PS is not very pleased with the Antillean delegation. WHY?

In the Netherlands On 9 April 2010 the law regulating the police force in the new countries was debated in the Dutch Parliament. On Monday 12 April 2010 the procedures in Dutch parliament to formalize the constitutional reforms had taken place. The Dutch parliament, using its right to amend, changed elements of the propositions of law, much to the dislike of all Curaçao politicians. To illustrate the debate I quote Mr. Hero Brinkman of the Dutch PVV: "He who pays, decides". On 13 April 2010 there are no procedures in Dutch Parliament but much talk on the events on the day before and expectations for the next day. The COUNCIL of Minister FOR the Kingdom went into session. On 14 April 2010 All Antillean parties represented in Parliament got the opportunity to speak in Dutch Parliament to voice their options. On 15 April 2010 the Dutch Parliament started the public procedures to approve the laws. As all the preparations of the last days, these procedures were transmitted on the islands via multiple media including new media.

On the 21 of April 2010 there are speculations that Mr. Schotte is leaving the MAN. In the meanwhile the politicians who stranded in the Netherland due to the volcano ashes of Iceland are getting back to the island. Also the political Party PAIS is incorporated by a notary. Around 27 April 2010 nobody is talking about elections. The talk of the day is the position of FOL member Mrs. Louisa-Godett with her employer, the State-Owned waste management company Selikor. And the position Mr. Els who left the MAN and joined the DP. On 28 April 2010 the MAN appoints Mr. Schotte to head the blue MAN party in the next election. Mr. Cooper will remain political leader of the party.

After A long weekend it is all about the utility plant BOO that is failing and the cause that the refinery has’t been up and running for over two months. The financial and management problems of the ambulance State Owned Organization CEMS. And the fact that Commissioner Mrs. Leito is working to conjure up a qualified majority to pass the constitution of Curaçao in the Island Council.

On Monday 10 May 2010 it becomes apparent that Mr. Schotte of the MAN is claiming the leadership of the MAN party. The pressure group Kousa Komun states that there must be a referendum on the new constitution. On 11 May 2010 the newspapers still report on the MAN and report on the presentation on a National Plan by the PNP party. 12 May 2010 things are really tense between the MAN and Mr. Schotte and the rumors were that Mr. Schotte will start a new political party. 14 May 2010 it appeared that another new political party was on the scene

4 PBV. It is active on Facebook. MAN reports that things are normal inside the party. And Holland expresses concerns if the new constitution will be ready in time. 17 May 2010 Mr. Schotte is all over the media explaining His point of view regarding his position within the MAN party and on the speculations that he will start his own party or not. The PNP reports that they had fruitful General Assembly.

18 May 2010 the Prime-Minister Mrs. de Jong Elhage expresses her wishes for elections in August 2010.

20 May 2010 it is all about CEMS and the planned new hospital. Both projects are the responsibility of the Commissioner of Health, who is also the political leader Mr. Davelaar of the PNP. This is bad news for the PNP. In the meanwhile party NPA started a daily talk show on Kanal 24.

On 30 May 2010 FOL commemorates the revolution of 1969 and it is reported that the internet bus project of Mr. Schotte is vandalized.

9 June 2010 are the elections for Dutch parliament. The VVD wins and Mr. Balkenende resigns as political leader of the CDA party. Mrs de Jongh-Elhage thanks him for His support OF the constitutional reforms of the kingdom. The political party PVV of Mr. Wilders is also a big winner. The political panorama in the Netherlands has changed DRAMATICALLY. The NA Prime-Minster knows that there is no time and room for mistakes anymore because the winners are less sympathetic towards the process of restructuring the Kingdom.

10 June 2010 it is reported that the opposition does not want to vote by voting machine in the coming elections because they suspect fraud by manipulating these machines.

On the 11 June the World Championship Soccer started in South Africa. The PNP are in an ugly fight on the CEMS (ambulance services) and the date to vote on the new constitution is approaching.

On 17 June 2010 the newspaper AD publishes that the Island Council decided that electronic voting is abolished and that the voting will be done the old-fashioned way, with paper and red pencil.

On Friday 18 June 2010 the New Constitution did not get the qualified two-thirds majority needed, making elections in August 2010 unavoidable. During the procedures Mr Adelbert Royer left the NPA party of Mr. Pierre. Mr. Pierre qualified him as a traitor of the people.

On Monday 28 June 2010 it is announced that the Island Council dissolved itself to make the new elections possible. The parties are starting there preparations. The party MAN held a congress. Mr. Schotte had his fundraiser. HAS HE LEFT THE MAN AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT HAD AN UPDATE ON SCHOTTE LEAVING MAN, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? PNP is appointing their team for the campaign.

5 On 6 June 2010 there is a nervous atmosphere in Dutch parliament. A few days ago the new political party PAIS elected their political leader Mr. Alex Rosaria. It is the day that the Dutch Soccer team qualified for the finals in South Africa and the Dutch parliament approves formally the new status of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

On 7 July Mr. Schotte presents his new political party MFK. Also PS present there team with Mr. Asjes former FOL member and Mr. Rosalia former director of the government Culture Foundation on the list. On 10 July 2010 the media reports on the presentation of Mr. Schotte’s new political party featuring a lot of familiar faces. On 10 and 11 July 2010 all the political parties announced their lists. This was during the World Cup Soccer Finals between Spain and the Netherlands. On Monday 12 July 2010 these list were officially submitted to the Electoral Bureau. 12 political parties submitted their lists to the Electoral Bureau to participate in the upcoming elections: Partido Pueblo Soberano (PS); Partido Movimiento Aliansa Curaçao Independiente; Partido Demokraat (DP); Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP); Partido Arte Rebolushonario (ARTE); Partido Antia Restrukturá (PAR); Partido pa Adelanto i Inovashon Sosial (PAIS); Partido Laboral (PLKP); Partido Frente Obrero (FOL); Partido Niun Paso Atras (NPA); Partido MAN; Partido Movimento Futuro Kòrsou (MFK).

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PBV PARTY YOU MENTIONED EARLIER??

Five of these political parties must go true the pre-elections on 17 and 18 July. They must obtain 1% of the votes casted in the previous election: 745 votes. These parties are: Aliansa Curaçao Independiente of Mr. Ruben de Mey, Partido Arte Rebolushonario of Mr. Andechi Albert Partido pa Adelanto i Inovashon Soshal (PAIS) of Alex Rosaria, Partido Laboral of Mr. Errol Goeloe Movimento Futuro Kòrsou (MFK) van Mr. Gerrit Schotte.

On Sunday 19 July 2010 in evening the results were announced: Arte 20 MFK 1427 PLKP 983 PAIS 889

In this period the Venezuelan airspace was invaded according to President Chavez. This actually happened on 4 July. President Chaves came out with this accusation around this time because The Dutch minister Verhagen was visiting the islands.

6 PAR states that the voters have the key to inter the new Curaçao on 101010 by voting for the PAR.

20 July 2010 FOL presents their program, after a few days before putting the head of department Mr. Heidweiler aside because he appeared on the list of PLKP.

There were a lot of surprises on de listS. Mr. Dudley Lucia not on the PNP list. Mr. Schotte with Mrs. Jacinta Constancia, who was with the FOL and candidates from media and entertainment. Mr. Armin Konket on the PAR list. He was a important member of the MAN in the past. Mr. Ribeiro emerge as the leader of the DP. He was even minister for the PAR on two occasions in the past. Mr. Chico Jonckheer a DP veteran returned, owner of several tabloid newspapers and financier of the DP. He was joined by Mr. Hans Els who left the MAN. 28 July 2010 all political leaders present themselves in talk shows on televisions. In their campaign PAR states that the voters hold the key. PS states they will not work with PAR because they are the opposite of PAR. On 29 July 2010 it is about the colors of the parties. The MAN is not happy with the color PAIS receives because they consider it to close to their color BLUE!.

On 30 July 2010 the Island Council approved the law to make the elections officially possible. Many parties started their election campaign officially, among them the DP. Suddenly Mrs. Zus de LanNooY, former leader of the PNP abandons the party after A negative declaration of het track record by her former party member Mr. Metry. PAR organizes big song festival and on 16 August 2010 there is a youth forum. There are expectations that PS will be big. This is also the case on poll on Facebook

7 21 August 2010 the campaign is heating up and the country feels very unstable with labor issues at the airport, the police force and even the university gain.

Mr. Schotte launches an online survey and gets into controversy on the elderly ON A TV PROGRAM. He stated that elders have no vision, referring to Mrs. de Jongh Elhage the political leader of the PAR.

PAR 7 MFK 6 PS 5

On 25 August 2010 (Wednesday) MFK closes campaign with a massive event with several live performances by the most popular music groups.

The traditional poll of the University of the Dutch Caribbean is published. PAR 10 MFK 6 PS 2 MAN 1 DP 1 PNP 1

8 Election day On 27 August 2010 the day starts very slow. It was the first elections without voting machine in years.

9 Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes Jan Aug Aug Seats Jan 10 10 10 May 03 Jan 06 Seat April 07 Seat 10 May 03 (%) Seats 03 Jan 06 (%) s 06 April 07 (%) Seats 07 10 (%) s 10 (%) Ban Vota 484 0.7 0 Blanco 519 DP 2519 3.8 0 2638 3.7 0 3813 5.1 1 1823 2.4 0 3043 4 0 E 0 Mayoria 41 0.1 FOL 22745 33.9 8 9582 13.6 2 7648 10.3 2 4354 5.9 0 4813 7 1 Forsa 6658 9.4 2 4932 6.6 1 MAN2 6274 9.3 2 13123 18.6 3 13923 18.8 5 23569 31.8 5 6529 9 2 MODPOR 242 0.3 0 MSI 195 0.3 0 MSL 1032 1.4 0 NPA 3819 5.7 1 3851 5.5 0 6304 8.5 2 336 0 PAPPS 185 0.3 0 PAR 13710 20.4 5 18187 25.8 5 20862 28 7 26662 35.9 6 22505 30 8 PLKP 8785 13.1 3 4293 6.1 0 1227 1.6 0 509 1 PNP 7153 10.7 2 7768 11 2 7558 10.2 2 6506 5.8 1 4590 6 1 PPE 309 0.4 0 PS 3357 4.8 0 5494 7.4 1 10785 14.5 2 13881 19 4 UPN 2168 3.2 1651 2.2 0 MFK 15949 21 5 PAIS 2198 3

.Source: (http://www.registrosivil.an/eiland2007/index.html)

2 MAN, NPA and FK combined there efforts and presented a joined list in January 2010

10 The PAR lost over 4000 votes. There was a need for an explanation. Coalitions were being formed and it seemed that PAR would be left out. On 31 August 2010 it became more apparent that MFK, PS and MAN had formed a coalition. The days after at the last moment the coalition was formed. The only thing binding parties is their hate towards PAR.

4 September 2010 after a delayed meeting the new Island Council approved the new constitution. 8 September 2010 the new island government attended the Roundtable Conference in the Netherlands to finish the process of constitutional reforms.

15 September 2010 Mr Schotte was appointed the formateur (constructor) of the new government for the new country Curaçao by the Governor.

Consequences On 101010 Mr. Schotte became the first Prime Minister of the new country Curaçao. his government started in the mid of controversy on the screening of the ministers. Rumors in the media state that Prins Willem-Alexander had given the go ahead regardless of the lack of a complete screening.