WILLEMSTAD – Former Minister of Economic Development and current Member of Parliament Ruisandro Cijntje has withdrawn his candidacy for political leader of the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP), citing what he describes as a hostile atmosphere within the opposition party.
According to an announcement circulated on Tuesday, October 13, Cijntje submitted a formal withdrawal letter ahead of the party's leadership election, scheduled for November 1.
His decision leaves former Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Dayanara Chin-A-Lien-Roozendaal as the only remaining candidate for the PNP leadership.
Cijntje reportedly decided to withdraw because of several situations within the party that he considers hostile. Although he is stepping away from the leadership contest, he will remain a member of the PNP.
The development follows weeks of internal tensions surrounding the party's leadership election.
Earlier this month, the PNP board publicly distanced itself from statements made by former Prime Minister Maria Liberia-Peters during a radio interview in which she criticized Cijntje.
The former prime minister had questioned Cijntje's decision to establish a separate campaign location in Kolebra Bèrdè while the party already maintains an official headquarters on Winston Churchillweg.
The party board described the remarks as unacceptable and said they violated its standards of respect, discipline and proper conduct. It also emphasized that the leadership election should be conducted fairly and impartially, without personal attacks against candidates.
In a recent interview Cijntje expressed concern about the increasingly confrontational atmosphere surrounding the leadership contest.
He warned that a hostile internal struggle could create divisions capable of seriously damaging the party.
Cijntje argued that political leadership should be based on the confidence of party members rather than personal confrontations or efforts to damage another candidate's reputation.
He also emphasized that although he is prepared to compete for leadership positions, he does not believe political ambitions should come at the expense of party unity.
Cijntje has been active within the PNP since 2016 and remained with the party during a difficult period following the 2017 parliamentary election, when it failed to secure representation in Parliament.
He subsequently served as Minister of Economic Development after the PNP returned to government following the 2021 election.
During the March 2025 parliamentary election, he secured a seat in Curaçao Parliament as one of the party's four elected representatives.
In recent public statements, Cijntje emphasized his decade of loyalty to the PNP and his involvement in rebuilding the organization during periods of political difficulty.
His withdrawal significantly changes the upcoming leadership election, which had been expected to feature a contest between Cijntje and Chin-A-Lien-Roozendaal.
With only one candidate remaining, the November 1 leadership process is now expected to proceed without a contest between the two previously announced candidates, although the party has not yet publicly clarified whether any additional procedural steps will be required.
The development also places renewed attention on the PNP's internal unity and its efforts to strengthen the organization following the March 2025 parliamentary election.
For now, Cijntje has made clear that his decision concerns the leadership candidacy rather than his membership in the party.