
The Dutch government has intervened on Curaçao to break what it described as an “antidemocratic” impasse on the island.
The government of what is nominally an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands had requested the intervention to reconstitute the island legislature. “At the moment,” Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath said earlier this week, “democracy isn’t functioning on Curaçao as it should be.”
All ten opposition lawmakers had boycotted virtual meetings of the Estates, denying the ruling parties, who also have ten seats, a quorum to swear in a new deputy: Emmilou Capriles, who replaces the stepped-down Jeser El Ayoubi.
The Dutch government has now appointed Capriles by decree.
The same opposition lawmakers tried to use the death of a ruling party deputy to bring down the government last summer. They failed, but not before encouraging riots. Read more “Dutch Intervene to Break Stalemate in Curaçao Legislature”