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Democratic Party Sint Maarten
Democratische Partij Sint Maarten
LeaderSarah Wescott-Williams
PresidentHasani Ellis[1]
FounderClaude Wathey
Clem Labega[2]
Founded1954 (1954) (original)[3]
22 January 2023 (refounded)[4]
DissolvedNovember 2017 (refounded in January 2023)
Split fromCuraçao Democratic Party (original)
United Democrats (2023)
Merged intoUnited Democrats (2017)
Youth wingProfessional Young Persons
IdeologyChristian left
Christian democracy
Social democracy
Political positionCentre-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

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.[5]

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

Netherlands Antilles Island Council elections

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/–
1955 Claude Wathey 365 66.97%
4 / 5
 New
1959 392 63.84%
4 / 5
 Steady 0
1963 613 71.73%
4 / 5
 Steady 0
1967 Unopposed
5 / 5
 Increase 1
1971 1,234 59.44%
4 / 5
 Decrease 1
1975 2,081
5 / 5
 Increase 1
1979 2,126 50.50%
3 / 5
 Decrease 2
1983 3,342 66.85%
5 / 7
 Increase 2
1987 5,036 74.19%
7 / 9
 Increase 2
1991 2,837 32.88%
3 / 9
 Decrease 4
1995 Sarah Wescott-Williams 4,323 45.81%
5 / 11
 Increase 2
1999 5,601 54.42%
7 / 11
 Increase 2
2003 4,919 48.38%
6 / 11
 Decrease 1
2007 6,635 49.48%
6 / 11
 Steady 0

Sint Maarten Parliament elections

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Government
2010 Sarah Wescott-Williams 2,340 17.11%
2 / 15
 Decrease 4 Coalition
2014 2,398 16.54%
2 / 15
 Steady 0 Opposition (2014-2015)
Coalition (2015-2016)
2016 1,813 12.76%
2 / 15
 Steady 0 Coalition (2016-2017)
Opposition (2017-2018)
2018 Merged into United Democrats
2020
2024 Sarah Wescot-Williams 1,970 13.64%
2 / 15
 Increase 2 Coalition

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hasani Ellis elected DP Board President". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ a b "Democratic Party is back, announces party congress". thedailyherald.sx. 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ "UP and DP merge as 'United Democrats'". sxm-talks.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.


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