2017 Curaçao general election
Early general elections were held in Curaçao on 28 April 2017 after the fall of the government led by Hensley Koeiman.
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| Turnout | 66.40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
The previous general elections in 2016 resulted in the formation of a four-party coalition government consisting of MAN, the Real Alternative Party (PAR), the National People's Party (PNP) and Sovereign People (PS), headed by Hensley Koeiman of MAN.[1] However, the PS withdrew from the coalition on 11 February 2017, causing it to lose its majority. Prime Minister Koeiman subsequently submitted his resignation to the governor.[2] On 24 March 2017 Gilmar Pisas was sworn in as interim Prime Minister.[3]
Electoral system
The 21 members of the Estates are elected by proportional representation.[4] Parties that won at least one seat in the 2016 election were allowed to participate and a primary election was held to determine which other parties could run. These parties were required to win the equivalent of 1% of the votes cast in the previous general election in order to participate.
Primary election
A total of 14 parties registered to contest the election. Six parties were without parliamentary representation and had to participate in the primary election on 18 and 19 March 2017.[5] Parties that won more than 792 votes (1% of the total votes in the 2016 election) qualified to participate in the election.
| Party | Leader | Votes | % of 2016 turnout | Qualified | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partido Inovashon Nashonal | Suzy Camelia-Römer | 2,660 | 3.36 | Yes | ||
| Movementu Kousa Promé | René Rosalia | 1,218 | 1.54 | Yes | ||
| Workers' Liberation Front–Partido Aliansa Nobo | Amado Rojer | 1,124 | 1.42 | Yes | ||
| Democratic Party | Geraldine Scheperboer-Parris | 603 | 0.76 | No | ||
| Movementu PUSH Kòrsou | Ydellienne Heerenveen | 501 | 0.63 | No | ||
| Liberashon Klàsiko Komunidat di Kòrsou | Josefina Josepha | 113 | 0.14 | No | ||
| Total valid votes | 6,219 | |||||
| Source: Supreme Electoral Council of Curaçao | ||||||
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Alternative Party | 18,368 | 23.30 | 6 | +2 | |
| Partido MAN | 16,070 | 20.39 | 5 | +1 | |
| Movement for the Future of Curaçao | 15,706 | 19.92 | 5 | +1 | |
| Kòrsou di Nos Tur | 7,439 | 9.44 | 2 | −1 | |
| Partido Inovashon Nashonal | 4,200 | 5.33 | 1 | New | |
| Sovereign People | 4,028 | 5.11 | 1 | −1 | |
| Movementu Progresivo | 3,880 | 4.92 | 1 | 0 | |
| Un Kòrsou Hustu | 3,206 | 4.07 | 0 | −1 | |
| National People's Party | 3,099 | 3.93 | 0 | −2 | |
| Movementu Kousa Promé | 1,975 | 2.51 | 0 | 0 | |
| Workers' Liberation Front–PAN | 859 | 1.09 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 78,830 | 100.00 | 21 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 78,830 | 98.58 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,138 | 1.42 | |||
| Total votes | 79,968 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 120,430 | 66.40 | |||
| Source: SECC | |||||
References
- Tension Between Coalition Partners Curaçao Chronicle, 9 February 2017
- Curacao govt. collapses; new elections coming in April NL Times, 13 February 2017
- "Pisas beëdigd als nieuwe premier Curaçao" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 24 March 2017.
- Political structure The Economist Intelligence Unit
- Update: 14 Parties Participate In The Upcoming Election Curaçao Chronicle, 9 March 2017