A Kingdom dispute plan could move another step forward next week as Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten continue seeking an independent system for resolving constitutional disagreements with the Netherlands.
Draft may be signed next week
According to 24ora, information shared from the Netherlands indicates that a draft related to the long-delayed dispute-resolution arrangement may be signed next week. The Kingdom Charter has required such a mechanism under Article 12a since October 10, 2010.
The central disagreement concerns who should make the final decision. The Caribbean countries have sought an independent body able to issue binding decisions, while earlier Dutch proposals would have preserved a decisive role for the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
Independent decisions remain the goal
A Dutch proposal failed in 2019 after objections to its structure. Aruba later submitted a new Kingdom Act proposal to the Dutch House of Representatives in September 2025, and the Council of State issued advice in March 2026 calling for additional clarity about the law’s scope.
The possible signing would be a procedural advance, not confirmation that every disagreement has been resolved. The stated goal of the Kingdom dispute plan is a balanced process that protects autonomy and gives constitutional disputes an independent hearing.
