PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten, CMC– Voters in this Dutch-speaking Caribbean country have failed to give any political parties a clear victory in Monday’s snap general election, ensuring there will be yet another coalition government here.
Preliminary figures released here showed that the parties had yet to secure a majority in the 15-seat Parliament. The Central Voting Bureau Chairman, Nathalie Tackling, said she has already informed the Governor, Ajamu Baly, of the preliminary results.
The preliminary results showed that out of 22,750 registered voters, 13,828 voted for Monday’s election, giving a turnout of 60.78 percent.
According to the preliminary figures, the Soualiga Action Movement (S.A.M.) receiving 1 249 votes, the National Alliance (N.A.), 2,264, the Empire Culture Empowerment Association (E.C.E.), 136, the Democratic Party (D.P.) received 2,069 votes.
The preliminary figures also showed that the Oualichi Movement for Change (O.M.C.) had received 521votes, the National Opportunity Wealth (N.O.W.,1,245, the United People Party (UP)- 2,038, the Party for Progress (P.F.P.), 1,942 and the Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM) that received 2,230 votes.
The initial seat allocation indicates that the Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM), the Democratic Party (D.P.), the National Alliance (N.A.) each receive three seats, while the Party for Progress (P.F.P.), and the United People Party (UP) being allocated two seats each. The National Opportunity Wealth (N.O.W.) and the Soualiga Action Movement (S.A.M.) received one seat each.
Tackling said the results are preliminary and subject to verification by the Central Voting Bureau, which will hold a public meeting on August 26.
The snap election followed the collapse of the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina, which lost its majority in Parliament.
During the general election, a four-party government was formed on January 11, 2024, with Dr. Mercelina at the helm. The authorities said that out of 22,580 registered voters, 14,719 people voted, resulting in a turnout rate of 65.19 percent.
However, the government collapsed 18 days later when one legislator, Kevin Maingrette, left the coalition to join the opposition.
Mercelina was forced to dissolve Parliament and call a snap election. However, on May 27, Marinette withdrew his support for the opposition and expressed support for the Mercelina administration again despite still sitting as an independent.
However, the elections remained scheduled, and on July 2, Marinette announced he would not seek re-election.
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