WILLEMSTAD--It appears a power struggle has emerged between the board and parliament-fraction of “Pueblo Soberano” (PS), following the recent murder of the party’s founder and leader Helmin Wiels.

 

The board says it wanted a dialogue with the representatives in the legislature among others about the appointment of ministers in the political cabinet that the PS/PAIS/PNP/Sulvaran coalition is currently forming. However, the party’s parliamentarians have failed to show up three times in a row.

 

Helmin’s brother and Deputy Chairman of PS Aubert Wiels said nobody would benefit from a situation where there is a break in the coalition and new elections have to be called. He explained that while his late brother wanted parliamentarian Jaime Cordoba to become minister, the latter had indicated he was no longer interested.

 

However, instead of discussing this with the board, the fraction apparently decided on its own to nominate Jeanne-Marie Francisca instead as successor to outgoing Minister of Labour, Social Development and Wellbeing Sherwin Josepha.

 

Wiels stopped short of saying the board would throw the parliamentarians out of the party, based on its articles of association. “We are getting advice on possible legal and political steps.”

 

At the request of various persons, the board remains available for mediation, and according to Wiels, there is still time. “I don’t see what the hurry is with a new government. There is a government that is working and we have no problems with it.”

 

The five PS-parliamentarians, including fraction leader and nominated Prime Minister Ivar Asjes, during a press conference yesterday evening announced they had started collecting signatures to send home the board. Number 7 candidate in the last election Sherwin Leonora, who will replace Asjes in the legislature when he becomes prime minister, is also on-board.

 

Asjes went as far as saying that elements of opposition party MFK had infiltrated the party board and that it was up to the members to purify the party. He indicated that, as a last resort, all the fraction members could go independent to continue as the “Movementu Aliansa Sivil” (Civil Alliance Movement) that Helmin Wiels had started with, while remaining in the coalition with PAIS, PNP and independent (former PAR) parliamentarian Glenn Sulvaran.