WILLEMSTAD - Sheldry Osepa, a member of the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP), is advocating for reforms to limit seat-selling and prevent personal interests from damaging the democratic process. Osepa is urging the Committee on Procedures in the Parliament (Staten) to develop proposals that include innovative improvements to safeguard the integrity of the political system.
Osepa’s plea follows the recent departure of Corine Djaoen-Genaro from his faction, which has raised concerns about the potential exchange of parliamentary seats for large sums of money. This, Osepa argues, undermines public trust in the democratic system.
While members of Parliament enjoy significant freedom under the Constitution, Osepa warns that financial incentives to retain seats could result in additional costs, such as hiring new staff, which could negatively affect the functioning of Parliament.
Osepa suggests that reforms, similar to those in the Netherlands, could be implemented, where members who resign from their seats would have less access to public financing. This, he believes, would help prevent the destabilization of democracy and ensure that personal interests do not influence parliamentary decision-making.