Government of Curaçao

The government of Curaçao, a "constituent country" (Dutch: land) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the prime minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Curaçao has full autonomy on most matters, with the exceptions summed up in the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the title "Kingdom affairs". The Constitution of Curaçao was ratified in September 2010, and entered into force on 10 October 2010 upon the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Curaçao
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Curaçao

Executive power

Executive power rests with a governor, and a prime minister heads a Cabinet. The governor of Curaçao is appointed for a six-year term by the monarch (on from 2013: King Willem-Alexander), and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by the Staten for four-year terms.

Cabinet
Further information: List of cabinets of Curaçao

The cabinet was sworn in on 7 June 2013, and was characterized as a "political" cabinet, set to complete the full term of parliament.[1] The cabinet is based on a majority in the Estates of Curaçao of the parties PS, PAIS and PNP, as well independent member Glenn Sulvaran (formerly PAR)[2]

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Prime Minister Ivar Asjes PS 7 June 2013
Minister of Economic Development Stanley Palm PAIS 7 June 2013
Minister of Finance José Jardim 31 December 2012
Minister of Health, Environment, and Nature Denzil (Ben) Whiteman PS 31 December 2012
Minister of Government Policy, Planning and Services Etienne van der Horst PAIS 31 December 2012
Minister of Justice Nelson Navarro PAIS 31 December 2012
Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Irene Dick PS 27 December 2013
Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Jeanne Francisca PS 7 June 2013
Minister of Traffic, Transport and urban Planning Earl Winston Balborda PNP 31 December 2012
Minister Plenipotentiary Marvelyne Wiels PS 7 June 2013

Legislative power

Legislative power is shared by the government and the legislature. The legislature or Estates of Curaçao (Dutch: Staten) is made up of 21 members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms. The current composition is shown below

 Summary of the 28 April 2017 Curaçaoan parliamentary election results
Party Lijsttrekker Votes % +/− Seats +/−
Real Alternative PartyPAREugene Rhuggenaath18,36823.3+8.26+2
MAN PartyMANHensley Koeiman16,07020.4+4.25+1
Movement for the Future of CuraçaoMFKGerrit Schotte15,70619.9+4.05+1
Curaçao of Us AllKdNTAmparo dos Santos7,4399.4−1.02−1
National Innovation PartyPINSuzy Camelia-Römer4,2005.3New1+1
Sovereign PeoplePSJaime Córdoba4,0285.1−1.61−1
Progressive MovementMPMarilyn Moses3,8804.9−0.41–
A Just CuraçaoUKHOmayra Leeflang3,2064.1−2.00−1
National People's PartyPNPHumphrey Davelaar3,0993.9−4.90−2
The Cause FirstMKPRené Rosalia1,9752.5+0.10–
Workers' Liberation Front / New Alliance PartyFOL-PANAmado Rojer8591.1New0–
Total valid votes78,83010021
Blank & invalid votes1,138
Total79,968
Registered voters & turnout120,43066.40
Source: Supreme Electoral Council of Curaçao

Judicial power

Curaçao's judicial system, which has mainly been derived from the Dutch civil law system, operates independently of the legislature and the executive. It has one court of first instance: the Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg, Curaçao, and an appeal court the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, which it shares with the other Dutch entities in the Caribbean. No appeal is possible to decisions of the Joint Court of Justice, but fundamental "questions of law" may be submitted to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands and the Hoge Raad der Nederlanden in cassation. Verdicts by those institutions may lead to a new decision of the Joint Court, taking into account the results of the cassation.

References
  1. "Curacao's New Government". Curaçao Chronicle. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  2. "Curacao's New Government". Curaçao Chronicle. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
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