Schotte-cabinet lost its majority

July 30, 2012 8:24 AM

WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao's Government can no longer count on majority support in Parliament, after MAN-leader Charles Cooper failed to reach agreement with Parliamentarian Eugene Cleopa, who is no longer willing to back the MFK/PS/MAN coalition.

MAN's party council decided last night after speaking with Cleopa that it would continue to support the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK), but with only one rather than two seats. This also means government has lost its minimal majority of 11 seats in the 21-seat legislature, but there are indications that one-seat opposition party FOL might join the coalition to restore that majority (see related story).
 
Cleopa was disappointed last night, saying he was only defending the principles of his party that simply do not rime with what has been going on in the current government. Especially the frequent attacks from PS and its leader Helmin Wiels on MAN and its members could no longer be tolerated in his view, "but apparently others in the party are willing to accept anything to stay where they are."
 
MAN-leader and Deputy Prime Minister Charles Cooper said the party had long decided that in this government one had to focus on content rather than form. The rants by coalition partners are not important, he said, but what is being done for the people.
 
He stated that the old guard which dominated local politics for decades before this government had created all kinds of "sacred cows" in for example health care and commerce to protect their own interests. This government is now tackling those, he added, to come to a more just division of the country's riches.
 
Cooper warned that "invisible hands" trying to get rid of this government were actually after the petroleum- and gas resources believed to be in the ground. "The idea is to put a government in place that can be manipulated by the major oil players," he said.
 
The party congress also decided to ask Cleopa in writing to give up his seat in Parliament. Cooper mentioned that with just over 300 votes the parliamentarian had not earned the seat outright and MAN's principles also include that one give the seat back to the party in such a situation.
 
Cleopa said he would await the letter, but will not give up his seat. "If I do that I allow them to continue with this government that goes against party principles."
 
He said he could not believe it had been suggested that he was being paid to bring down the government when he had consistently warned against the direction things were going.