Gilmar Pisas Explained

Honorific Prefix:His Excellency
Gilmar Pisas
Office:Prime Minister of Curaçao
Governor:Lucille George-Wout
Term Start:14 June 2021
Predecessor:Eugene Rhuggenaath
Monarch1:Willem-Alexander
Governor1:Lucille George-Wout
Term Start1:24 March 2017
Term End1:29 May 2017
Predecessor1:Hensley Koeiman
Successor1:Eugene Rhuggenaath
Office2:Minister of Justice
Primeminister2:himself
Term Start2:24 March 2017
Term End2:29 May 2017
Predecessor2:Ornelia Martina
Office3:Speaker of Parliament
Term Start3:17 February 2017
Term End3:24 March 2017
Predecessor3:Giselle McWilliam
Successor3:Amerigo Thodé
Birth Date:28 October 1971
Party:Movement for the Future of Curaçao

Gilmar Simon Pisas (born 28 October 1971)[1] is a Curaçaoan politician and Prime Minister of Curaçao, serving since 14 June 2021. He previously served as prime minister between 24 March 2017 and 29 May 2017, and as a member of the Parliament of Curaçao until June 2021.

Early life and career

Pisas was born on 28 October 1971.[2] Before becoming involved in politics, he worked as a police officer.[3]

Political career

Pisas was elected into the Parliament of Curaçao in the 2016 election.[4] [5] On 17 February 2017, Pisas was elected Speaker of Parliament, succeeding Giselle McWilliam.[6]

First Pisas cabinet

On 24 March 2017, Pisas was sworn in as Prime Minister by Governor Lucille George-Wout, succeeding Hensley Koeiman.[7] His interim cabinet received support by 12 of the 21 MPs. It included those belonging to the MFK, Korsou di Nos Tur, Movementu Progresivo, Sovereign People and the independent MPs Gassan Dannawi and Eduard Braam. Pisas was positioned as interim prime minister, pending the screening of Charles Cooper.[8] [9] Pisas was succeeded as Speaker of Parliament by Amerigo Thodé.[10]

MinistryMinisterPeriodParty
Prime MinisterGilmar Pisas24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Education, Science, Culture and SportMaureena Esprit-Maduro24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Independent, representative for Gassan Dannawi
Minister for Social Development, Work and WelfareJaime Córdoba24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Sovereign People
Minister for JusticeGilmar Pisas24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Governance, Planning and ServiceNorberto Vieira Ribeiro24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Korsou di Nos Tur
Minister for FinanceLourdes Alberto24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Independent, representative for Eduard Braam
Minister for Traffic, Transport and Urban PlanningRuthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia24 March 2017 – 30 March 2017[11] Sovereign People
Minister for Economic DevelopmentErrol Goeloe24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Korsou di Nos Tur
Minister for Health, Environment and NatureSisline Girigoria24 March 2017 – 29 May 2017Movementu Progresivo

Re-election as Member of Parliament

Pisas was re-elected as MP in the 2017 election.[12] [13] On 6 June 2020, he was elected as the leader of the Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK).[14] Being the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament, Pisas demanded the resignation of the Rhuggenaath cabinet in July 2020, stating that it was not supported by a parliamentary majority.[15] In September 2020, in response to the need for Dutch financial support related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Curaçao, Pisas showed some support for a Caribbean Reform Entity (Dutch: Caribische Hervormingsentiteit (CHE)), but stated that proposed term of the CHE was too extensive.[16]

Second Pisas cabinet

Following the 2021 election, the second Pisas cabinet was sworn in on 14 June 2021 by the Governor of Curaçao as successor to the Rhuggenaath cabinet. It is a coalition government of the parties Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK) and National People's Party (PNP).

MinistryMinisterPeriodParty
Prime MinisterGilmar Pisas14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Education, Science, Culture and SportSithrey van Heydoorn14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Social Development, Work and WelfareRuthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia14 June 2021 – IncumbentNational People's Party (PNP)
Minister for JusticeGilmar Pisas14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Governance, Planning and ServiceOrnelio Kid Martina14 June 2021 – IncumbentNational People's Party (PNP)
Minister for FinanceJavier Silvania14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Traffic, Transport and Urban PlanningCharles Cooper14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)
Minister for Economic DevelopmentRuisandro Cijntje14 June 2021 – IncumbentNational People's Party (PNP)
Minister for Health, Environment and NatureDorothy Janga14 June 2021 – IncumbentMovement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK)

Controversies

Shortly after the formation of the Pisas cabinet, Pisas appealed to the governor that the planned 28 April elections should be cancelled.[3] [17] Pisas stated that a new majority had been formed in Parliament and that there was thus no need for new elections.[18] a majority in parliament appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to allow the election to be cancelled.[19] The petition to the ECHR was dismissed by the court on 29 March.[20] the ECHR rejected the petition.

A resolution was passed in Parliament on 27 March, calling for the cancelling or postponing of the elections. Governor George-Wout refused to sign the resolution, cited it "seriously impaired legal certainty and good governance".[21] The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands proposed, by use of an, to task Governor George-Wout with responsibility for holding the elections. Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated that the "interim cabinet severely damaged the integrity of the electoral process" and asked the Council of State for an urgent advice.[22] [23] On 3 April the Council of State gave a positive advice for the proposed measures.[24] The proposed measures were formally taken by the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the same day.[25] In response to the actions by the Council of Ministers Pisas stated: "the Netherlands is biased" and that the Netherlands was behind the parties opposing his coalition. He regretted the decision by the Council and called it unnecessary.[26]

On 28 April, Pisas submitted the resignation of his cabinet to the Governor.[27] On 29 May the Pisas cabinet was succeeded by that of Eugene Rhuggenaath.[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gilmar Pisas . nl . Gobièrnu di Kòrsou . 2022-10-28.
  2. Web site: Lijsten van kandidaten . Dutch . edsonevertsz . 26 March 2017.
  3. News: Uitstel Verkiezingen . Dutch . Antilliaans Dagblad . 24 March 2017 . 26 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Behalve Schotte hebben alle kandidaten Statenzetel geaccepteerd . Dutch . BearingPoint . 21 October 2016 . 26 March 2017 . 26 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170326230123/http://www.bearingpointcaribbean.com/behalve-schotte-hebben-alle-kandidaten-statenzetel-geaccepteerd/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Carrousel leden . Dutch . Estates of Curaçao . 26 March 2017 . 20 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120123508/https://www.parlamento.cw/nederlands/carrousel-leden_3194/ . dead .
  6. Web site: Gilmar 'Pik' Pisas van MFK nieuwe voorzitter Staten Curaçao . Dutch . De Surinaamse Krant . 17 February 2017 . 26 March 2017 . 26 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140137/http://www.de-surinaamse-krant.com/2017/02/gilmar-pik-pisas-van-mfk-nieuwe.html . dead .
  7. News: 23 March 2017 . Ministers interim-kabinet bekend . Dutch . . 26 March 2017.
  8. Web site: 24 March 2017 . Pisas beëdigd als nieuwe premier Curaçao . 26 March 2017 . . Dutch.
  9. Web site: 24 March 2017 . Pisas Sworn In As New Prime Minister Of Curaçao . 26 March 2017 . The Curaçao Chronicle . Dutch.
  10. Web site: 24 March 2017 . Amerigo Thode Is New President Of Parliament . 21 April 2017 . Curaçao Chronicle . Dutch.
  11. Web site: Minister Larmonie-Cecilia Resigns . Curaçao Chronicle . 30 March 2017 . 31 March 2017.
  12. Web site: 2 May 2017 . Results MFK Due To Gilmar Pisas . 8 October 2017 . Curaçao Chronicle.
  13. Web site: Carrousel leden . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120123508/https://www.parlamento.cw/nederlands/carrousel-leden_3194/ . 20 January 2021 . 8 October 2017 . Estates of Curaçao.
  14. Web site: 8 June 2020 . Pisas nieuwe partijleider MFK . https://web.archive.org/web/20200609164556/https://paradisefm.cw/pisas-nieuwe-partijleider-mfk/ . 9 June 2020 . Paradise FM.
  15. Web site: Oppositie ruikt bloed . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803225308/https://antilliaansdagblad.com/nieuws-menu/21945-oppositie-ruikt-bloed . 3 August 2020 . Antilliaans Dagblad . nl.
  16. Web site: 4 September 2020 . Interview: Pisas: MFK geen tegenstander van Caribische hervormingsentiteit . https://web.archive.org/web/20201025120323/https://nu.cw/2020/09/04/audio-mfk-geen-tegenstander-van-caribische-hervormingsentiteit/ . 25 October 2020 . Nu.CW.
  17. Web site: Nieuwe regering Curaçao wil verkiezingen stoppen . Dutch . . 25 March 2017 . 26 March 2017.
  18. Web site: Pisas: "Elections Will Be Postponed!" . The Curaçao Chronicle . 25 March 2017 . 26 March 2017.
  19. Web site: Parliamentary Majority Seeks Protection Of The European Court Of Human Rights . The Curaçao Chronicle . 27 March 2017 . 29 March 2017.
  20. Web site: European Court Of Human Rights Rejects Petition Made By Gerrit Schotte And Others . Dutch . Curaçao Chronicle . 27 April 2017.
  21. Web site: The Governor Of Curaçao: "Elections Must Take Place!" . Curaçao Chronicle . 27 March 2017 . 29 March 2017.
  22. Web site: Rijksministerraad grijpt in op Curaçao . Dutch . Nederlandse Omroep Stichting . 31 March 2017 . 27 April 2017.
  23. Web site: Rijksministerraad: Verkiezingen Curaçao op 28 april moeten doorgaan . Dutch . Rijksoverheid . 31 March 2017 . 27 April 2017.
  24. Web site: Raad van State steunt maatregelen rondom verkiezingen Curaçao . Dutch . Council of State . 4 April 2017 . 27 April 2017.
  25. Web site: Bevoegdheden Gouverneur Curaçao voor verkiezingen van kracht . Dutch . Rijksoverheid . 3 April 2017 . 27 April 2017 . 27 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427192539/https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2017/04/03/bevoegdheden-gouverneur-curacao-voor-verkiezingen-van-kracht . dead .
  26. Web site: Interim Premier Pisas: "The Netherlands Is Biased" . Dutch . Curaçao Chronicle . 31 March 2017 . 29 April 2017.
  27. News: Ontslag Pisas in beraad . Dutch . Antilliaans Dagblad . 29 April 2017.
  28. Web site: New Curaçao Government Under The Leadership Of Rhuggenaath Sworn In . Curaçao Chronicle . 29 May 2017 . 1 June 2017.