In the aftermath of
Hurricane Irma, which hit the island hard on 6 September 2017 and paralyzed the economy, the Democratic Party and the
United People's Party decided to merge to form the
United Democrats. Five years later, on 10 January 2023, a party congress was announced to take place on 22 January. Party leader
Sarah Wescott-Williams cited Sint Maarten's "personal (individual) political system" as a cause for political instability and described the upcoming congress as "more than the usual annual council meeting of the party" and a "regeneration meeting". ==Election results==