The Bonaire constitutional referendum of 2010 was originally scheduled to take place on January 15, 2010.[1] The Bonairean Executive Council later voted to hold it on 26 March 2010,[2] but Lieutenant Governor Glenn Thode requested that the enabling legislation be cancelled, citing his belief that it "cannot stand the test of international law.".[3] Governor Frits Goedgedrag has granted Thode's request and cancelled the referendum.[4]
The enabling legislation decided that the referendum should be worded "Ik wil dat Bonaire een rechtstreekse band met Nederland zal hebben in de vorm van A. Associatie (Bonaire krijgt een eigenstandige positie binnen het Koninkrijk) of B. Integratie (Bonaire wordt deel van Nederland)" [5] (I desire that Bonaire shall have a direct tie with the Netherlands in the form of A: Association (Bonaire holds an independent position inside the Kingdom) or B: Integration (Bonaire becomes a part of the Netherlands)).
The Netherlands Antilles is scheduled to cease to exist on October 10, 2010.[6] Under the current terms of the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire will become a fully integrated municipality within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.[2] This may be changed should voters choose to become an associated state within the Netherlands instead.[1]
The set date for the referendum was originally set as January 15, 2010, exactly one week before the Netherlands Antilles general election.[1] The date was chosen so it will not conflict with the general election.[1] Other dates originally considered for the referendum were December 11, 2009, and March 19, 2010.[1] The referendum did not take place on January 15, and was rescheduled to March 26, 2010 before being cancelled.[7]
The Netherlands has indicated that it will not cooperate if the referendum favors free association, stating "that the only alternative to the process of integration currently in execution was independence".[8] Previously agreed upon payments from the Kingdom to Bonaire have been placed on hold pending the outcome of the referendum.[9]
The referendum was called after a government changeover from the Bonaire Patriotic Union (UPB), led by Ramonsito Booi, to the Bonaire Democratic Alliance (ADB), led by Jopie Abraham. The referendum was a key point of contention between the two parties.[10] The succession was triggered by the departure of Anthony Nicolaas from the ruling coalition, an act which is being investigated as being a result of corruption.[11]
Ultimately, a referendum was held on December 17, 2010. 35% of the electorate voted, with 84.3% of the voters opposing the new status. As the referendum process requires 51% turnout, the referendum was declared invalid.[12]