January 2024 Sint Maarten general election
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All 15 seats in Parliament 8 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 65.51% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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General elections were held in Sint Maarten on 11 January 2024.[1][2][3]
Electoral system
[edit]The 15 seats in the Estates were elected by proportional representation.[4] In order to participate in the election, new parties and parties without a seat in parliament were required to obtain at least 134 signatures; 1% of the valid votes of the 2020 general elections.[5]
Results
[edit]Preliminary results were released at the end of the night of the election, with official results announced by the Central Voting Bureau on 18 January.
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Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
National Alliance | 3,455 | 23.92 | 4 | –2 | |
United People's Party | 2,814 | 19.48 | 3 | –1 | |
Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement | 2,028 | 14.04 | 2 | New | |
Democratic Party | 1,970 | 13.64 | 2 | +1[a] | |
Party for Progress | 1,717 | 11.89 | 2 | 0 | |
Nation Opportunity Wealth | 1,481 | 10.25 | 2 | New | |
United St. Maarten Party | 686 | 4.75 | 0 | –2 | |
Empire Culture Empowerment Association | 292 | 2.02 | 0 | New | |
Total | 14,443 | 100.00 | 15 | 0 | |
Valid votes | 14,443 | 97.75 | |||
Invalid votes | 332 | 2.25 | |||
Blank votes | 0 | 0.00 | |||
Total votes | 14,775 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 22,553 | 65.51 | |||
Source: Central Voting Bureau |
Aftermath
[edit]A four-party government was formed between the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), the Democratic Party, the Party for Progress and Nation Opportunity Wealth, all of which won two seats.[6] Luc Mercelina's URSM, having received the most votes of the 4 parties, lead the new government with Mercelina as Prime Minister.[7] Elected members took office on 10 February 2024, followed by a coalition deal on 21 February.[8] The new government with Mercelina as Prime minister eventually took the oath of office on 3 May.[9] However, the government collapsed 18 days later as Kevin Maingrette, an MP from the Nation Opportunity Wealth party, 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.[10]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Ran in the 2020 election as the United Democrats, winning one seat
References
[edit]- ^ "UPDATE: Voters to go to polls January 11, 2024". The Daily Herald. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Sint Maarten to hold Election on January 11, 2024". St Vincent Times. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Sint Maarten announces Election 2024 date". Loop News. 30 August 2023.
- ^ The Constitution Archived 2016-03-25 at the Wayback Machine Estates of Sint Maarten
- ^ "Election Ordinance - Government of Sint Maarten" (PDF). Government of Sint Maarten.
- ^ "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 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Dr. Mercelina gives update on the Formation". 721 News. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Dept, Editorial (2024-05-03). "New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Wong, Melissa (21 May 2024). "Sint Maarten to dissolve Parliament paving way for snap election". Loop News. Retrieved 22 May 2024.