WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes stepped down effective immediately after the parliamentarians of his own party “Pueblo Soberano” (PS) withdrew their confidence in him.
The news was first confirmed by coalition partner Alex Rosaria of PAIS. He said the friction between the legislative fraction and the prime minister had reached the point where the latter was given 48 hours to resign and vacate the office.
Asjes submitted his resignation to Governor Lucille George in the afternoon. He said he was proud of his government’s work, but would not issue a statement until Wednesday. He bade farewell to his colleagues during an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers.
Soon after Public Health, Nature and the Environment Minister Ben Whiteman (PS) was sworn in by the governor as temporary prime minister for a period of three months. During that time the party will have to come up with a new candidate.
Rosaria explained that the cabinet has not fallen, as without Asjes it still has majority support in Parliament of the PS/PAIS/PNP/Sulvaran coalition.
The prime minister had recently announced he would probably not run in next year’s election, after his candidacy for the presidency of PS had been criticised by members to the point that he stepped back and Edward Joseph was re-elected as such. Asjes is also accused of ignoring parliamentary motions.
Concerned PS-supporters went to the party’s headquarters at Palu Blanku seeking answers, but were told by fraction-member Elmer “Kadè” Wilsoe they would have to wait for the regular gathering on Saturday.
