Curaçao’s Coalition Patch-Up While Aruba's Government Falls and Sint Maarten Forms a New Coalition: Is the Coalition System Really to Blame for Instability?
September 10, 2024
As of yesterday, September 9th, Curaçao’s patched-up coalition is attaching an addendum to its governing agreement. Meanwhile, the government in Aruba has collapsed, and Sint Maarten is in the process of forming a new coalition. Unsurprisingly, editorials are focusing on the instability of coalition systems.
Indeed, we live in an unstable period, but this is not necessarily due to coalition systems. Instead, this instability is inherent to the ongoing transitions in our societies. Furthermore, let me clarify: any system where a single party holds absolute power will inevitably lead to abuse of power. We are already seeing signs of this, and history has repeatedly taught us this lesson.
That said, reforms can enhance stability within coalition systems. Sint Maarten has implemented a few changes, but they have not had the desired effect. As all this unfolds, the Netherlands remains unbothered mainly.
On the back page of the newspaper, a full-page article promotes a series of lectures on "The Dream of Tula." This feels like symbolic politics, with the Netherlands trying to show sincere regret for its history of slavery. But in reality, this seems to perpetuate and program the master-slave dynamics of Curaçao 1.0, while the Netherlands positions itself as a leader in the world of 5.0.
We seem to find comfort in nurturing our role as victims, and we are ever so grateful to the Netherlands.
Miguel Goede
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