August 2024 Sint Maarten general election
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All 15 seats in Parliament 8 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Snap general elections were held in Sint Maarten on 19 August 2024,[1] following the early dissolution of the parliament elected in January.[2]
Background
[edit]Following the January 2024 general elections a four-party government was formed by the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), the Democratic Party, the Party for Progress and Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW), all of which had won two seats.[3] As the URSM received the most votes of the four, its leader Luc Mercelina became prime minister.[4] Elected members took office on 10 February 2024,[5] and Mercelina took the oath of office on 3 May.[6] However, the government collapsed 18 days later when NOW MP Kevin Maingrette resigned from his party and left the coalition to join the opposition. This crossing the floor cost the coalition its majority, leading Mercelina to dissolve parliament and call snap elections.[7] However, on 27 May, Maingrette withdrew his support for the opposition and expressed support for the Mercelina administration again despite still sitting as an independent.[8] However, the elections remained scheduled.[9] On 2 July, Maingrette announced he would not seek re-election,[10] and on 12 July was arrested and his house scheduled to be searched following possible involvement in bribery prior to his time as an MP.[11][12][13]
Electoral system
[edit]Per the Constitution of Sint Maarten, the number of members in the Estates is determined by the following scale, dependent on the population:[14]
- ≤60,000: 15
- 60,001 to 70,000: 17
- 70,001 to 80,000: 19
- 80,001+: 21
As the population was estimated to be 41,349 as of 1 January 2024,[15] the number of mandates to be contested in this election is 15. The members are elected by open list proportional representation (first using the Hare quota then D'Hondt method for any seats still unallocated) for a four-year term.[16][14] The voting age is 18, and candidates standing must be a resident of the island, a Dutch national, 18 years of age or older, and must not have been disqualified from voting. Elected members may not stay outside the country for more than eight months, or their mandate lapses, and must not be the spouse or a second-degree relative of another member. In order to participate in the election, new parties and parties without a seat in parliament are required to obtain at least 144 signatures; 1% of the valid votes of the prior elections (in this case the January 2024 general elections).[16][17]
Results
[edit] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| National Alliance | 2,262 | 16.52 | 3 | –1 | |
| Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement | 2,224 | 16.24 | 3 | +1 | |
| Democratic Party | 2,071 | 15.12 | 3 | +1 | |
| United People's Party | 2,043 | 14.92 | 2 | –1 | |
| Party for Progress | 1,946 | 14.21 | 2 | 0 | |
| Soualiga Action Movement | 1,250 | 9.13 | 1 | New | |
| Nation Opportunity Wealth | 1,243 | 9.08 | 1 | –1 | |
| Oualichi Movement for Change | 521 | 3.80 | 0 | New | |
| Empire Culture Empowerment Association | 136 | 0.99 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 13,696 | 100.00 | 15 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 13,696 | 98.63 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 190 | 1.37 | |||
| Total votes | 13,886 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 22,750 | 61.04 | |||
| Source: Government of Sint Maarten[18] | |||||
Aftermath
[edit]Theoretically, the original coalition formed following the election in January between the URSM, DP, PFP, and NOW would still have enough seats for a majority (obtaining 9 in total, an increase of 1 over the previous election) if they wished to continue under the prior agreement. However, on 22 August, it was announced that the URSM, DP, PFP, and SAM had agreed to form a governing coalition,[19] with Mercelina likely returning as prime minister.
On 6 September, Governor Ajamu Baly appointed Mercelina as formateur.[20] On 6 November, Mercelina announced a 7 member cabinet, with 2 ministerial positions each for URSM, DP, and PFP and 1 position for SAM. The second Mercelina cabinet included four returning ministers from the previous cabinet and three newcomers. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on 26 November.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sint Maarten gearing up for snap election in August". Loop News. 28 May 2024.
- ^ "SXM PM Mercelina calls snap elections". Times Caribbean Online. 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Sint Maarten: Four political parties sign historic coalition agreement". Loop News. 14 January 2024.
- ^ "BREAKING NEWS: URSM, DP PFP, N.O.W. Forge Historic Coalition Agreement for 2024-2028 Term". St. Martin News Network. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Mercelina gives update on the Formation". 721 News. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in". The Daily Herald. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Wong, Melissa (21 May 2024). "Sint Maarten to dissolve Parliament paving way for snap election". Loop News. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Independent MP Kevin Maingrette withdraws support from Great Eight". 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "URSM denies having influenced Maingrette's decision to return". 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Kevin Maingrette NOT Running Next Dutch St Maarten ELECTION 2024 (stmaartennews.ai)
- ^ "BREAKING NEWS/ EXCLUSIVE: MP Kevin Maingrette arrested". SXM Talks. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "BREAKING NEWS/ EXCLUSIVE: MP Kevin Maingrette house and office searched. (UPDATED)". St. Martin News Network. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Searches in outgoing Member of Parliament's residence and Parliament Building Sint Maarten". St. Martin News Network. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b The Constitution. Estates of Sint Maarten. Archived 2024-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ http://stats.sintmaartengov.org/download.php?type=pr§ion=VTL&nummer=114
- ^ a b https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Ministries/Campaigns/Documents/AB%202010%2c%20GT%20No.%2010_Election%20ordinance%20%281%29.pdf
- ^ "Election Ordinance - Government of Sint Maarten" (PDF). Government of Sint Maarten.
- ^ "Sint Maarten Parliamentary Snap Elections" (PDF). Government of Sint Maarten.
- ^ "Four parties to form coalition". StMaartenNews.com. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Governor Baly appoints Mr. L.F.E. Mercelina as Formateur". StMaartenNews.com. 6 September 2024. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "New Council of Ministers to be sworn in November 26". The Daily Herald. The Caribbean Herald. 6 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
