Democracy Is Not the Dictatorship of the Majority

Democracy Is Not the Dictatorship of the Majority

August 4, 2026

Yesterday, the Ombudsman's report circulated, concluding that the government pays little heed to court rulings. As a result, many senior civil servants who have obtained favorable court judgments are still sitting at home. I decided to leave the matter at that.

Today, however, I heard a prominent minister conclude a radio interview by stating that they are the leaders and have a mandate. According to him, the country will only move forward if they are allowed to govern as they see fit; otherwise, nothing will get done. He listens to criticism that they can use and then pushes ahead.

That statement reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of democracy. Winning an election gives a government the right to govern, but it does not give it the right to disregard the rule of law, independent institutions, or democratic principles. Democracy is not the dictatorship of the majority.

The results are visible every day. The press has gradually changed from the fourth estate into a lapdog. Around 35,000 people living in poverty are being pacified—or effectively bought off—with an extra ANG 100 per month, for which they are understandably grateful. Meanwhile, another minister appoints the director responsible for the government's data center without an open recruitment process. Transparency and equal opportunity appear to be of secondary importance.

Let us also not forget that, after ten months, the Receiver General had to go to court simply to obtain clarity as to why he was not being allowed to return to his job. At the same time, all recent CBS reports show that voters are falling behind on virtually every front, despite economic growth of 5 percent. Economic growth alone apparently says very little about the quality of governance or the quality of life.

This government was elected with a majority of 13 out of 21 seats. That is a democratic mandate. But a mandate is not a blank cheque. A government with a comfortable majority has an even greater responsibility to respect court rulings, ensure transparent appointments, follow proper procedures, and remain open to criticism. Moreover, the ruling party is characterized by internal power struggles and a lack of substantive policy. The minister referred to earlier even appears to see himself as the Bukele or Trump of Curaçao.

The state of our democracy is deeply troubling. Our democracy is deteriorating faster than it is merely eroding. The fact that this is part of a global trend is no consolation. On the contrary, precisely because democracies around the world are under pressure, we should be even more vigilant.

Ultimately, a democracy is not judged by the size of its parliamentary majority, but by the way it respects the rule of law, the separation of powers, independent institutions, and the rights of those who do not belong to the majority. That is where the true quality of a democracy is revealed. And it is precisely there that I have serious concerns.

Miguel Goede