Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CURACAO69
2009-08-28 20:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Curacao
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES PLANS FOR JANUARY 2010 ELECTIONS, AND

Tags:  NA AA NL PGOV PREL MARR SNAR 
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INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 
 DODE-00 WHA-00 DS-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VCI-00 
 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 
 NIMA-00 PM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 NCTC-00 FMP-00 SCRS-00 
 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 FA-00 
 SWCI-00 PESU-00 SANA-00 /000W
 
R 282038Z AUG 09
FM AMCONSUL CURACAO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2303
INFO AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
DAVIS MONTHAN AFB AZ
USCINCSO MIAMI FL
JIATF SOUTH
DEA SAN JUAN PR
DEA HQS WASHDC
AMEMBASSY CARACAS 
AMCONSUL CURACAO
UNCLAS CURACAO 000069 


DEPT FOR FOR L, M, PM, WHA\CAR, AND WHA\PPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NA AA NL PGOV PREL MARR SNAR
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS ANTILLES PLANS FOR JANUARY 2010 ELECTIONS, AND
TIMING OF USFOL RENEWAL

REF: (A) CURACAO 000012 (B) CURACAO 000040 (C) CURACAO 000056


UNCLAS CURACAO 000069


DEPT FOR FOR L, M, PM, WHA\CAR, AND WHA\PPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NA AA NL PGOV PREL MARR SNAR
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS ANTILLES PLANS FOR JANUARY 2010 ELECTIONS, AND
TIMING OF USFOL RENEWAL

REF: (A) CURACAO 000012 (B) CURACAO 000040 (C) CURACAO 000056



1. (U)This is an action request (para. 6)


2. (SBU) POLITICAL CALENDAR: The Government of Netherlands
Antilles (GONA) has announced that national Parliamentary
elections will be held, as required, in January 2010 (ref. A
Curacao 000012). The current Parliament expires in March, 2010.
PM de Jongh-Elhage had proposed allowing the current government
to continue through the dissolution period to avoid the burden
of holding elections for a political entity that will disappear.
The governments of the other four Antillean Islands concurred
with the PM's proposal but opposition parties in Curacao
objected, calling any electoral delay unconstitutional. The
Dutch Council of Advice approved the PM's proposal, but the
Antillean Council of Advice recommended against the delay in a
non-binding decision, citing a lack of consensus in Curacao.
The GONA had agreed to abide by the Council's advice and
reluctantly decided not to alter the January date for Antillean
Parliamentary elections. Separately, Aruba remains on track to
hold its parliamentary elections on September 25, 2009.


3. (U) POLITICAL STRUCTURE: The Netherlands Antilles (NA) is in
the process of dissolution, although its successor political
entities will remain part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
(KON). The current proposal to dissolve the NA will give
Curacao and St. Maarten status similar to Aruba, with the
remaining BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba)
becoming special overseas municipalities within the Netherlands.


4. (U) OPPORTUNITY FOR CURACAO OPPOSITION PARTIES: Curacao
Opposition parties are pleased with the PM's announcement,
seeing it as an important strategic victory. The elections open
the opportunity for these parties, some of which oppose the USAF
counterdrug Forward Operating Location here, to build on their
strong showing in the May 2009 referendum (ref. B Curacao
000040)and to gain power prior to dissolution. This, in turn,
could also strengthen their position in the competition to form
a new Curacao government after dismantling.


5. (SBU) TIMING IMPORTANT: The Kingdom of the Netherlands has
already expressed doubt as to whether legislation can be passed
in time to meet the current October, 2010 dissolution target
date. Following the PM's announcement, ruling coalition member
and FOL party leader, Anthony Godett has proposed delaying
dissolution to July, 2011, to correspond with island parliament
elections. The January elections could increase pressure to
delay dismantling, while an opposition victory then could lead
to calls for further discussion on the terms of dissolution.


6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The current governments in the
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are strongly supportive of the
FOLs. In view of the electoral calendars, political maneuvering
and the fact that some Curacao Opposition parties object to the
US military presence here, we again (ref A. Curacao 000012)
suggest that USG entities with equities in the FOLs consider
what would be the best timing for renewal (possibly by simple
delivery of a diplomatic note) of the current agreement with the
Kingdom of the Netherlands.

DUNNTJ