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.

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

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

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Movement for the Future of Curaçao23,55927.76+7.889+4
Real Alternative Party11,77813.88–9.404–2
National People's Party10,56312.45+8.474+4
Partido MAN5,4566.43–13.992–3
Kòrsou Esun Miho4,5375.35New1New
Work for Curaçao4,4115.20New1New
A Change for Curaçao3,9904.70New0New
Partido Inovashon Nashonal3,7344.40–0.930–1
Curaçao with Vision3,5444.18New0New
Kòrsou di Nos Tur3,5214.15–5.290–2
Movementu Kousa Promé2,4552.89+0.3900
Democratic Party2,3882.81+2.8100
Curaçao a New Dutch Municipality2,2452.65New0New
Movementu Progresivo1,4621.72–3.220–1
Sovereign People1,2151.43–3.710–1
Total84,858100.00210
Valid votes84,85898.78
Invalid/blank votes1,0521.22
Total votes85,910100.00
Registered voters/turnout116,14673.97
Source: SECC

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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