If yesterday’s cancelled Parliament meeting (see related story) is any indication, snap elections are perhaps indeed in the best long-term general interest. The reality is that a minimal majority in the 15-seat legislature can easily mean gridlock if any of the eight
members involved isn’t present due to whatever circumstances.
Not that numbers are a guarantee. After all, the outgoing UP-led government had the support of a two-thirds majority with 10 seats, but it did not last in the end because no less than three Members of Parliament (MPs) “abandoned ship” at the same time.
Still, with the incoming NA-led coalition it would take only one. The disadvantage of that became painfully clear on Monday due to the absence with notice of – since recently independent – MP Silvio Matser.
There is no reason to blame someone in particular for this situation, which commonly occurs in parliamentary democracies. As a matter of fact, the current PS/PAIS/PNP/Sulvaran combination in Curaçao has survived with 11 out of 21 seats even when PS fraction leader Mac Cijntje was in the Netherlands for health reasons quite a while.
One must take into account that a possible tie in votes is not an immediate threat either. In such cases no proposal would pass and, for example, a motion of no confidence requires approval by more than half of the legislators.
Nevertheless, the generally-accepted norm states that the bigger the majority, the greater chance of governmental stability and at least potential effectiveness. This is something voters, but also everyone considering a shot at the polls early next year and especially party leaders definitely should keep in mind.
It’s reported in today’s paper that – at the request of the NA-led coalition – Parliament is meeting Wednesday on the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet’s draft national dissolution decree to be signed the same day by Governor Eugene Holiday, opening the door to early elections and the appointment of an interim government by the new majority. Debating the issue is one thing, but any efforts to turn back the clock of the past month or so – if even legally possible – instead of finalising the process as set out by the Governor should be strongly discouraged at this point, Truth be told, more political turmoil is about the last thing St. Maarten wants or needs right now.
