WILLEMSTAD - Anthony Godett is making a comeback to the Parliament of Curaçao after a 12-year absence, as announced by his party, KEM. He will replace Michelangelo ‘Lo’ Martines, who remains in detention on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. Martines submitted his resignation as a Member of Parliament this week.
Godett's credentials will be verified during a public session of the Parliament (Staten). Once approved, he will be sworn in before Governor Lucille George-Wout and officially take his seat in Parliament. Godett hinted at his possible return to the Staten two weeks ago in an interview with Curacao.nu.
Martines' Legal Troubles
Party leader Michelangelo ‘Lo’ Martines is currently in pre-trial detention as the main suspect in the ‘Bleda’ investigation, which centers on money laundering and drug trafficking. Until last Tuesday, he was held under restrictive conditions, limiting his contact to only his lawyer. These restrictions have now been lifted, allowing him to formally submit his resignation as an MP. A hearing with the examining magistrate this Friday will determine whether his detention will be extended, potentially keeping him in custody for an additional 8 days.
Anthony Godett's Political Comeback
Anthony Godett rose to prominence around the turn of the century as one of Curaçao's most popular politicians. He led his party, FOL, to victory in the 2003 elections but was unable to become Prime Minister due to allegations of fraud and corruption, which led to a 15-month prison sentence in 2005. Despite a decline in votes in the 2006 elections, he secured enough support to remain a Member of Parliament until 2012. After stepping away from politics for several years, he returned in the last election as the second candidate on the list of the newly formed party KEM, behind leader Michelangelo ‘Lo’ Martines.
Coalition Stability
KEM currently holds one seat as part of a coalition with MFK (holding 9 seats) and the independent MP Zita Jesus-Leito. The coalition partners have expressed a preference to maintain this alliance until the next elections in March 2025. Martines' resignation is seen as a move to ensure stability within the coalition.