Poor Democracy
Poor Democracy
November 11, 2024
It’s clear that preparations are well underway for the March 2025 elections in Cura?ao. Political parties and their candidates are already active, finalizing the lists of candidates. Although it may seem early, this early work is crucial, especially given the global shift in election dynamics. Today’s elections are no longer formulaic processes, and conventional campaign playbooks have become largely irrelevant.
As usual, I am approached by various parties for consulting services, a paid role that I accept only if certain standards are met. But that’s not the focus here. What’s crucial is the visible strain on voters: 30% of the electorate lives below the poverty line, and a full 60% survive on less than 3,000 guilders per month. This, in a society grappling with severe inflation since the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, but also the oligopolistic structure of the food import sector, places disposable income and basic needs at the center of voter concerns.
More than ever, voters prioritize candidates who can address their economic hardships. Integrity often takes a backseat to promises to put food on the table. We’ve seen this trend globally. In the United States, for instance, economic concerns became key election issues. Political backgrounds or criminal records seem to matter less; voters are driven by survival. We have seen this phenomenon also in Surinam for example.
This shift has a well-documented effect: the value of a vote is degraded. As a sociologist and former politician, Nelson Pierre and others have pointed out, poverty has depreciated the worth of each vote. In many cases, small gifts like a bag of groceries, prepaid phone cards, or utility bill payments can sway voters. Stories of election-related handouts—such as cell phones, refrigerators, or ovens in other is-lands like Sint Maarten—are common. Ultimately, elections tend to favor parties with the most financial backing, given the high costs of media presence, just as in the U.S. and beyond. This reality is what political parties must face. A poor democracy indeed. I hope that I am wrong.
Miguel Goede