WILLEMSTAD – Seventeen political parties have expressed their intention to participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 21, 2025. Out of these, six parties already hold seats in parliament and are exempt from the pre-election signature-gathering process required for other parties. 

The remaining 11 parties must undergo a pre-election round, which involves collecting signatures from at least 848 voters. This number represents 1% of the valid votes cast in the last parliamentary elections on March 19, 2021. The requirement is stipulated in Article 16 of the Electoral Regulations of Curaçao and applies only to new parties or those without representation in parliament. 

Pre-Election Process 

The pre-election signature-gathering process, also known as the candidate list support phase, will take place on February 1 and 2, 2025, the second Saturday and Sunday following the candidate list submission deadline of January 23, 2025. 

During these support days, voters can visit designated support offices between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to sign in support of a party’s candidate list. This step is crucial for non-parliamentary parties seeking to appear on the March election ballot. 

Voter Eligibility 

Members of Parliament (Staten) are directly elected by eligible voters who meet the following criteria: 

Registered as residents of Curaçao. 

At least 18 years old on election day. 

Hold Dutch nationality. 

The electoral register, which includes personal details such as name, date of birth, personal identification number, address, and assigned voting district, will close on December 24, 2024. Voters whose addresses are still being confirmed will be assigned to a voting district by the chairman of the Electoral Council.