Sint Maarten government collapses after only 17 days in office

The government of Sint Maarten has fallen only 17 days after it was sworn in. The coalition led by Prime Minister Luc Mercelin has lost its majority after one of its members announced he was leaving the party and continuing as an independent parliamentarian, NOS reports.

Sint Maarten, an island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, swore in its new government on May 3. The screening of two of its Ministers hasn’t even concluded yet, according to ANP. The four coalition parties each had two seats in parliament, giving it a narrow majority in the parliament with 15 seats.

On Monday, parliamentarian Kevin Maingrette of the party NOW announced that he would leave the coalition party and continue as an independent parliamentarian, costing the brand-new government its majority. The governor will now have to appoint a formateur to form a new government.

Maingrette also announced that he had already signed a coalition agreement between the National Alliance and the UP Party—the two parties that have led Sint Maarten for the past four years. In the elections at the start of this year, they got one seat too few to continue. With Maingrette's support, they have a majority.

“The new situation offers opportunities for former Prime Minister [Silveria] Jacobs to resume her premiership and continue to govern. She will only have to take into account the wishes of ship jumper Maingrette, who has now helped her to a majority of one seat,” NOS correspondent Dick Drayer said, adding that the governor must first appoint a formateur to set up a new government.