WILLEMSTAD – Fourteen political parties have officially registered for the upcoming parliamentary elections on March 21. Party leaders submitted their candidate lists one by one at the Electoral Council in Scharloo on Thursday, some with more fanfare than others.
Beforehand, the Electoral Council, officially known as the Konseho Supremo Elektoral Korsou, had already compiled a list of participating parties and determined their registration order through a lottery. The Democratic Party pulled out a day before the submission deadline, while several other parties formed last-minute alliances. In the end, fourteen parties showed up to register. Some made it a real spectacle, such as the MFK, which paraded with a trailer featuring the band One and Tumbakoning Charel 'Adjatay' Denisia. Others, like the single-member Civil Rights Movement Curaçao, showed up modestly with a folder containing the necessary documents. One party, Trabou Pa Korsou, took a creative approach by showcasing a basket of vegetables and a baby goat in a wooden pallet cage to highlight the importance of Curaçao’s agriculture sector.
Each party was allotted 25 minutes to arrive, submit their lists, and then speak to the press in a separate room at the Electoral Council office. The schedule was strictly adhered to. The list submissions are seen as part of Curaçao’s folklore—a tradition that used to take place at the Bevolkingsregister Kranshi in Otrobanda but was moved to Scharloo this year for logistical reasons. The smooth organization of the event was clearly a priority, and that mission seems to have been successful.
Here’s a closer look at the parties that registered:
Movementu Kousa Promé
Movementu Kousa Promé was the first to register at 9 a.m. Giselle Rosalia, socially active in her neighborhoods of Sint Joris and Beurs, has taken over from her father, party founder René Rosalia, who is now listed as number six on their list. The party continues to advocate for the strong development of Curaçaoan identity.
Miho Korsou
Newcomers Miho Korsou, led by businessman Gilbert Ricardo, initially faced a setback when Ricardo’s passport photo was missing. However, the issue was quickly resolved within minutes.
PAR
The largest opposition party, PAR, came with a significant following. When asked whether elections today are won through social media and if PAR is well-equipped to compete, party leader Quincy Girigorie replied nonchalantly: “Other parties write a lot about me and try to tarnish my image. So I must be doing something right. Thanks to them for giving me that attention.”
MAN-PIN
At the MAN-PIN combination, the widow and son of the late MAN founder Don Martina participated. Many questions centered around the leadership of the party. Experienced PIN leader Suzy Camelia-Römer made it clear she supports MAN leader Giselle McWilliam, the number one on their list. The body language between the two was telling, with many hugs, pats on the back, and smiles exchanged. The message was clear: Römer and McWilliam get along very well, and there will be no "two captains on one ship."
Trabou Pa Korsou
Trabou Pa Korsou, led by Rennox Calmes, took so long to present itself that the Electoral Council’s tight schedule left no time for their press conference. The Electoral Council had made it clear that the schedule would be strictly followed.
Union i Progreso
Elvis de Andrade, known for his fiery Facebook Live videos, is confident in his party Union i Progreso (UP) this time around. A few years ago, his videos had only ten viewers, but now they reach thousands per video. This visibility and consistency should help UP secure one or more seats.
Civil Rights Movement Curaçao
Civil Rights Movement Curaçao is a one-man party led by Ringo Harrigan, who advocates for the rights of vulnerable members of society, including opportunities for people with disabilities in the job market. Reporters asked what would happen if his one-man party suddenly garnered enough votes for two seats. According to the Electoral Council, any additional seat would go to another party as a rest seat.
KEM
The new leader of Partido KEM, Jason Fullinck, replaces Michelangelo ‘Lo’ Martines, who is currently in pretrial detention for alleged drug trafficking. KEM has formed a list combination with Un Kambio Pa Korsou (UKPK), led by Raichel Sint Jacoba. Four years ago, Sint Jacoba’s youthful candidate list nearly secured a seat. Amado ‘Broertje’ Rojer, who previously attempted to surpass the electoral threshold with the PAN party, has now joined KEM.
MDDK
After lunch, the Movementu pa Desaroyo Duradero Korsou (MDDK) led by Marulla Chirino registered. Chirino, a former entrepreneur who once ran a perfume business in Curaçao, is making a second attempt after failing to surpass the electoral threshold four years ago.
Un Era Nobo Pa Korsou
Newcomers Un Era Nobo Pa Korsou are fielding two candidates: party leader Hugh Lopes and number two Romeo Tuur. They emphasize "huntu ku ABO," meaning “together with YOU.”
MFK
MFK, the ruling party, had a stark contrast in its registration presentation. The campaign budget was evident, with many large flags and a band, One, featuring Tumbakoning ‘Adjatay’ Denisia, hired to energize the crowd. MFK had a large contingent, including all prominent members except for Sithree van Heydoorn, who is currently abroad as a minister. In the previous elections, MFK secured nine out of 21 seats, partly thanks to rest seats. Some reporters speculated that MFK might win an absolute majority of at least 11 seats.
Partido pa Penshonado
Next was Moses Curiel of Partido pa Penshonado, a one-man party that registered without much support. The name of the party is self-explanatory, focusing on pension issues. Curiel, addressing the low AOV pension payments, stated he aims to give older people in Curaçao a voice in the elections.
Pueblo Soberano
While MFK supporters continued celebrating, Pueblo Soberano, once the largest party in Curaçao, was ready to register. Led by Ben Whiteman, the party had a small delegation of about seven members, and two older members raised the party’s flag in an attempt to catch the attention of MFK supporters.
PNP
The last party to register at 3:40 p.m. was PNP, led by Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia. PNP had been part of the government with MFK until five months ago, when tensions led to their departure. When asked if PNP would form a new alliance with MFK, Larmonie-Cecilia responded, “We will first see what the results are, then we will consider our options.”
Pre-Elections and Rest Seats
Of the 14 parties that registered, six currently hold seats in the parliament: MFK, PAR, MAN-PIN (in the form of Partido MAN), PNP, KEM, and Trabou Pa Korsou. These parties are automatically eligible for the elections on March 21 due to their current seats. The remaining parties must first meet the 848-vote threshold during the pre-elections on February 1 and 2. Supporters can vote at one of the twelve polling stations open on those days.
Even if all the non-parliamentary parties meet the threshold, fewer parties will participate compared to the 15 that registered four years ago. Last time, only six parties secured seats, and the votes for the other nine were lost, resulting in rest seats being allocated. Typically, the largest party benefits the most from rest seats, which worked in MFK’s favor four years ago. In a week, we will know how many parties will actually participate this year. On March 21, we will see how the number of parties affects the final outcome. In the meantime, expect lively election campaigns, with some pulling out all the stops.
