Beyond Procedures: Reflections on Democracy in Curaçao

Beyond Procedures: Reflections on Democracy in Curaçao

4 November 2025

On Thursday, October 30, 2025, I spoke on Radio Direct with Mr. Sparen. Every three or four months, he calls me to discuss political reflections on current affairs. This time, the topic was the controversy surrounding the tax authorities — the conflict between the (then) Minister and the Receiver of Taxes (Landsontvanger), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office launching an investigation that ultimately led to the Minister’s resignation and transition to Parliament, while the Receiver went on vacation. The opposition requested a meeting to discuss the matter, but the Speaker of Parliament decided he had the authority to cancel it. (Days after my interview, the Speaker reconsidered, and the meeting will now take place after all.)

During our talk, Mr. Sparen asked me to define democracy—a question I often write about and one we had previously discussed, especially around the March 21, 2025, general elections. I explained that democracy is not merely a procedure or the rule of a chosen majority in Parliament. It is a way of living together — one that assumes every citizen has rights, that every voice counts and must be heard. Democracy, therefore, is about the spirit of the law, not just its letter. Preventing Parliament from meeting, for example, goes against that democratic spirit.

Coincidentally, on November 2, I read Pericles: Voor de Democratie, with an accompanying essay by Bas Heijne. It reminded me how deeply these ideas are rooted in history. Pericles described democracy as the Athenian way of life — something worth defending and striving for. Heijne refers to historian Donald Kagan, who identifies three conditions for a thriving democracy: strong institutions, citizens who understand the democratic way of life, and a high standard of leadership.

By coincidence, I tumbled into The Economist, which says that the Turkish leader or system eviscerates democracy; they mean: The leader keeps the appearance of democratic institutions (elections, parliament, courts), but removes their absolute power, independence, or fairness.

Curaçao is no exception to the global erosion of these democratic foundations. Our institutions have become fragile, civic understanding has declined, and leadership standards have eroded. We see it when procedures are used to silence debate, when citizens disengage from politics, and when leaders confuse authority with service.

If democracy is indeed more than a set of rules, then restoring its spirit requires rebuilding all three foundations: institutions that serve the public, citizens who care enough to participate, and leaders who understand that power, in a democracy, is always temporary and accountable.

Miguel Goede