What already was pretty obvious now has been confirmed. The incoming William Marlin Cabinet is postponing indefinitely the early elections set for February 9 by National Decree.
The stated plan is to delay going back to the polls until issues with the existing system of parliamentary representation and related matters like “ship-jumping” can be addressed though electoral reform and adjusting certain laws, including the Constitution. This is to bring a greater degree of political stability than the Dutch side has seen since gaining country status on 10-10-10.
However, with no timeframe for all these things to take place, it easily could turn into a de facto cancellation with the recently appointed Council of Ministers remaining in their chairs until the running legislative term ends during the second half of 2018, when regular elections would be scheduled. If that happens nobody should be surprised, because the intention of the new NA/DP/USP/Lake/Matser coalition undoubtedly has never been to form a government for less than three months.
However, Prime Minister Marlin himself indicated that a majority for some of the envisioned measures still will have to be sought in Parliament. Initial reaction to a proposal whereby only candidates who receive enough preferential votes to be directly elected into office would “own” their seats and keep them when they break with their parties wasn’t exactly enthusiastic.
No wonder, because only one of the current members falls into that category. Moreover, legislators take an oath to act in good conscience and not based on the wishes of the organisation to which they belong.
A more plausible fix would be to repeal St. Maarten’s so-called Lynch Law whereby candidates, regardless whether they surpass the seat-threshold on their own, are elected according to number of personal votes and no longer their spot on the list. This has weakened the fabric of the local political parties and could be reversed easily were it not for the fact that – again – several current members might not even have been in Parliament now without it.
So, while many people indeed may desire to see some kind of real, meaningful and significant change, they probably shouldn’t hold their breath.
