Democratic Party Sint Maarten
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Democratic Party Sint Maarten Democratische Partij Sint Maarten | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Sarah Wescott-Williams |
| President | Hasani Ellis[1] |
| Founder | Claude Wathey Clem Labega[2] |
| Founded | 1954 (original)[3] 22 January 2023 (refounded)[4] |
| Dissolved | November 2017 (refounded in January 2023) |
| Split from | Curaçao Democratic Party (original) United Democrats (2023) |
| Merged into | United Democrats (2017) |
| Youth wing | Professional Young Persons |
| Ideology | Social liberalism Progressivism[5] |
| Political position | Centre to centre-left |
| Colours | Red |
| Parliament of Sint Maarten | 2 / 15 |
| Website | |
| www.dpsxm.com | |
The Democratic Party Sint Maarten (Dutch: Democratische Partij Sint Maarten) is a political party in Sint Maarten. The party was long associated with its powerful leader, business tycoon Claude Wathey. Wathey stepped down from his leadership post in 1992. The party was dissolved in 2017 and refounded in 2023.
Dissolution and refoundation
[edit]In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, which hit the island hard on 6 September 2017 and paralyzed the economy, the Democratic Party and the United People's Party decided to merge to form the United Democrats.[6]
Five years later, on 10 January 2023, a party congress was announced to take place on 22 January. Party leader Sarah Wescott-Williams cited Sint Maarten's "personal (individual) political system" as a cause for political instability and described the upcoming congress as "more than the usual annual council meeting of the party" and a "regeneration meeting".[4]
Election results
[edit]Netherlands Antilles Island Council elections
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Claude Wathey | 365 | 66.97% | 4 / 5
|
New |
| 1959 | 392 | 63.84% | 4 / 5
|
 0
| |
| 1963 | 613 | 71.73% | 4 / 5
|
0
| |
| 1967 | Unopposed | 5 / 5
|
 1
| ||
| 1971 | 1,234 | 59.44% | 4 / 5
|
 1
| |
| 1975 | 2,081 | 5 / 5
|
1
| ||
| 1979 | 2,126 | 50.50% | 3 / 5
|
2
| |
| 1983 | 3,342 | 66.85% | 5 / 7
|
2
| |
| 1987 | 5,036 | 74.19% | 7 / 9
|
2
| |
| 1991 | 2,837 | 32.88% | 3 / 9
|
4
| |
| 1995 | Sarah Wescott-Williams | 4,323 | 45.81% | 5 / 11
|
2
|
| 1999 | 5,601 | 54.42% | 7 / 11
|
2
| |
| 2003 | 4,919 | 48.38% | 6 / 11
|
1
| |
| 2007 | 6,635 | 49.48% | 6 / 11
|
0
| |
Sint Maarten general elections
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sarah Wescott-Williams | 2,340 | 17.11% | 2 / 15
|
4
|
Coalition |
| 2014 | 2,398 | 16.54% | 2 / 15
|
0
|
Opposition (2014-2015) | |
| Coalition (2015-2016) | ||||||
| 2016 | 1,813 | 12.76% | 2 / 15
|
0
|
Coalition (2016-2017) | |
| Opposition (2017-2018) | ||||||
| 2018 | Merged into United Democrats | |||||
| 2020 | ||||||
| Jan 2024 | Sarah Wescot-Williams | 1,970 | 13.64% | 2 / 15
|
2
|
Coalition |
| Aug 2024 | 2,069 | 15.12% | 3 / 15
|
1
|
TBA | |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Hasani Ellis elected DP Board President". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ "Wreath-laying ceremony Saturday in memory of Dr. Claude Wathey". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ "At 60 and counting, DP reflects on past contributors to the building of the St. Maarten nation". sxmislandtime.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Democratic Party is back, announces party congress". thedailyherald.sx. 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Jorien Wuite: with a bold move on her way to the Dutch Parliament". StMaartenNews.com. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "UP and DP merge as 'United Democrats'". sxm-talks.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
| Current parties | |
|---|---|
| Defunct parties | |
| Curaçao |
|
|---|---|
| Sint Maarten | |
| Bonaire | |
| Sint Eustatius | |
| Saba | |
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- Political parties in Sint Maarten
- Political parties established in 1954
- 1954 establishments in the Netherlands Antilles
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- 2017 disestablishments in Sint Maarten
- Political parties established in 2023
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