WILLEMSTAD - Former Prime Minister and MFK leader Gerrit Schotte still exerts a lot of influence on his party from prison. Schotte regularly calls from prison to the party where all members of parliament are present. He submits legislative proposals and determines the course of the party.

Schotte has been serving a three-year prison sentence for civil corruption and money laundering since the beginning of December last year.

According to party leader Gilmar "Pik" Pisas, Schotte is doing well physically. "He has lost a lot of weight and does cardio," said the member of Parliament for the largest opposition party.

Pisas hopes that Schotte will be released early because of good behavior, if necessary, with an monitoring ankle bracelet. He hopes for October. The law also states that detainees are released early after serving two-thirds of their sentences. Only in the case of serious misconduct can the Minister of Justice decide that a prisoner should serve his or her full sentence.